They don’t call him “Britain’s kindest plumber” for nothing! 54-year-old James Anderson is known for two things: fixing sinks and doing good. His company, DEPHER (Disabled & Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repairs) allows him to do both. Recently, he fixed an elderly cancer patient’s boiler at no cost, and the internet is in tears over what he wrote in the invoice.
“No charge for this lady under any circumstances,” it reads. “We will be available 24 hour to help her and keep her as comfortable as possible.”
On another occasion, Britain’s kindest plumber gave a 100% discount to a disabled veteran living in “severe poverty,” according to a Facebook post.
Britain’s kindest plumber does whatever he can to keep prices low.
How does James Anderson finance DEPHER when he’s constantly giving away free services and huge discounts to his elderly and disabled clients? Part of his funding comes from the community. The Guardian tells us that donations make up 30% of the company’s income. When that’s not enough, Britain’s kindest plumber digs into his own bank account.
“I’m 54,” he explained. “I’ve been on the holidays, had the nice car and eaten in the fancy restaurants. I don’t need to experience those again. It’s my pleasure and duty to help those who are less well-off.”
Before he started DEPHER, James used to have a much more financially successful plumbing business. However, to him, this newer enterprise is far more meaningful.
“We’ve got a duty as humans to care for the poor, the elderly, the vulnerable — not to ignore them and say it’s someone else’s problem,” he said.
Yahoo! News tells us that James Anderson has also been providing groceries for those who need them. He started up a food bank where he allows customers to “purchase” goods for next to nothing.
This man’s story is truly inspiring! Most of us are willing to help others when we can, but not many people would put their own wants aside in order to dedicate their lives to those living in poverty. Britain’s kindest plumber has definitely earned his nickname!
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.