Women have been shaping The Tool Library since day one, and today, we’re lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible women who make this place what it is — whether they’re serving on our board, running community programs across the city or getting their hands dirty in the shop. There are too many to shout out all at once, but we’ve pulled together a roundup of just some of the amazing women in our orbit below.
Melanie Rushforth (she/her)
Melanie is the chair of our board of directors and an all-around powerhouse. Her interest in The Tool Library centers around providing access and information to people who are striving to make their community a better place to live, work and play. She can often be found in her garden, growing food and flowers, or relaxing around her fire pit fueled by the plentiful downed branches in her Angola yard. By day, she’s the CEO of Lutheran Charities, where she brings nonprofits and individuals together to collaborate and create meaningful change for people across WNY. She believes this “City of Good Neighbors” is just that. “A good tool improves the way you work. A great tool improves the way you think.”
Antionette McClain (she/her)
Antionette has been a dedicated board member, volunteer and programs committee chair since 2023, actively contributing to community-driven initiatives. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, she is passionate about giving back and fostering meaningful engagement within her community. Whether helping organize events or supporting local programs, Antionette is committed to creating accessible opportunities for learning and service. You’ll often find her at Dare to Repair Cafés or Service Day events, connecting with others and making a positive impact.
Barbara Bono (she/her)
Board member Barbara has been part of The Tool Library almost since its beginning, supplying skilled student volunteers in her position as Academic Director of UB’s Undergraduate Academic for Civic Engagement from 2010-2016. A Professor of English and of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, she was also the Co-Director of the UB Institute for Research and Education on Women and Gender (IREWG). In retirement she uses her skills as a writer and proofreader in support of the Tool Library, and cultivates relationships with partner organizations and local businesses. She raises much of her family’s food in her backyard Parkside rain garden, and you can find her with trash-picker, shovel and wheelbarrow at many of our Service Day events.
Milagros Buschfrers (she/her)
Milagros (pictured left) has been volunteering at The Tool Library since the fall of 2021. She received her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from UB, and is graduating with her master’s in engineering sustainability this May. While working in the shop, you can usually find her checking in/out tools, managing the phone and organizing tools. She loves to hear about the projects our
members are working on. This spring she hopes to use her creative skills to paint some new signage inside the shop. “The Tool Library has brought me some of my best friends and lets me make a real impact on the issues that matter to me in Buffalo,” she said.
Ava Fetzner (she/her)
Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) student Ava Fetzner (pictured center) has been working with The Tool Library since Fall 2024. Ava is a student studying Environmental Engineering at UB, and because of her role with ESSC, she has been able to make working at The Tool Library her job. Ava works regular shop hours, but her passion is really being able to participate at the Dare to Repair Cafes! She works registration along with other Tooligans interacting with the community and getting to see the joy of others when they are able to again use a beloved item from their home. Ava is so grateful to be apart of such a caring and passionate community where she knows real change is happening. “It takes all of us to make change, and with a place like The Tool Library, we can cultivate community and make the impact we all want to see,” she adds.
Lissa Rhodes (she/her)
Repair coordinator & past operations manager, Lissa Rhodes joined The Tool Library as our first organizational staff member in 2022 and has had a hand in improving shop operations and building out new facets of camaraderie between members, volunteers and relationships with other area organizations. After pursuing a new career in the trades in 2020, Lissa discovered her love of building, and with her recent move to a part-time position with The Tool Library is brainstorming how to bring that passion to others. Lissa has a 13-year-old son, and when she’s not busy with her tools, she loves to travel and go to concerts whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Shoshana Lenzo (she/them)
Shoshana joined the volunteer team in 2023. Growing up, she was taught that tools were scary and dangerous. While attending UB, she participated in Habitat for Humanity and never looked back. Now she eagerly updates her own home and wants more people to feel empowered enough to tackle their projects too. Whether you’re interested in maintaining, cleaning, fixing or making something new, The Tool Library is Shoshana’s favorite place to discuss a project, decide on a game plan and get all the tools needed to complete the work! “Stop buying tools to use once or twice. We all have a fully stocked toolbox with a Tool Library membership,” she adds.
Abby Frelier (she/her)
As a lifetime fan of libraries, shop volunteer Abby’s favorite thing about The Tool Library is getting to call herself a librarian. She joined The Tool Library as a member while renovating her 100-year-old house with her husband. Before she knew what was happening, she blinked and found herself on the volunteer side of the desk, nail gun in hand. She works as an engineer in her day job and is great proof that engineering as a career or as a practice is not reserved only for people with natural talents in organization, or math. Engineering is a skill to build that anyone can strengthen! She loves that with The Tool Library, we get extra practice in solving problems first by sharing tools and knowledge with others before buying something. When not steaming wallpaper, Abby can be found playing ice hockey, on a train trip, in a bookstore, or most likely wrangling her three cats.