Life is difficult and if there is any way to help ease that burden for someone, wouldn’t you want to do it?
Hopefully, the answer is yes. Often, our hearts are in the right place but sometimes our own circumstances prevent us from helping others. This shouldn’t be the case and it doesn’t have to be.
That is the mindset of James Anderson, a plumber from the small British town of Burnley.
Anderson’s most recent kind gesture has garnered the attention of people around the world.
Anderson was dropping off someone when he received notice to repair a broken boiler. He was also told that the woman living there was a 91-year-old elderly woman who was dying from leukemia.
Anderson fixed the boiler and when the woman’s daughter, Christine Rowlands asked for the bill, he said that he would email it to her.
Rowlands received the bill but to her surprise, there wasn’t a charge. Instead, it read:
“No charge for this lady under any circumstances. We will be available 24 hours to help her and keep her as comfortable as possible.”
Rowlands shared the heartwarming invoice on her Facebook the next day where it immediately went viral. At the moment, it has over 29,000 reactions and has been shared over 10,000 times.
In her post, Rowlands referred to Anderson as an angel in a plumber’s outfit.
This isn’t the first time that Anderson helped a person in need.
Anderson began his own non-profit company to help the most vulnerable people of the world, the elderly.
According to him, he’s helped 2,389 people since March 2017.
The company’s name is DEPHER. an acronym that stands for, Disabled & Elderly Plumbing & Heating Emergency Repairs.
Anderson started the company after seeing an elderly man being taken advantage of by an engineer. Witnessing the exchange opened his eyes to the realities elderly people face everyday.
“It got me thinking about other elderly and vulnerable people — we need to do something more to help the people who need it most.”
Anderson realized that older people don’t usually ask for help when they need it and he saw the implications, firsthand, one could face when they do seek help.
He says that the goal of DEPHER is to take that worry away from the elderly community by offering free and low-cost repairs.
Nothing is entirely for free and doing for others out of the kindness of one’s heart is no exception. Anderson’s company is £8,000 in debt but to him, it is worth every penny.
Anderson is currently paying off the debt but continues to offer a 25% discount to its customers regardless of the company’s financial struggles.
Another goal Anderson helps to achieve is to get other professionals on board to help grow the network. Anderson said that he’s spoken to others who are willing to help his company but the main issue is funding.
As for himself, Anderson says that he will be fine just as long as he’s able to continue helping those in need.
“As long as I have enough money to fill up the tank in my car, I will be there to try and help the people who need it.”
Anderson clearly has a heart of gold. Whenever he’s asked why does he do this type of work when it only brings him financial strain, his answer is simple:
“I don’t want any person who is elderly and disabled in this country, in this day and age, to die or suffer because of a cold home or a lack of funding to repair the boiler.
… Simple as that.”
The world can use more businesses like Anderson’s!
Meet the plumber who is providing crucial help for the elderly and disabled.
James Anderson does not charge his vulnerable customers – and he’s been amazed at the life-saving difference that such an act has made on these people’s lives. | @Depheruk | @burnleycouncil | #5News pic.twitter.com/eCmBU2fVZb
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) September 19, 2019
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