Hero Plumber Hands 91-Year-Old $0 Bill And She's Only 1 Of Thousands He's Blessed
January 14, 2021
Hero plumber James Anderson wowed the Internet when he refused to take any form of payment from a 91-year-old woman suffering acute leukemia. And as it turns out, this act of kindness is just one of many from this modern-day Good Samaritan!
We're told to do all things to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). And in 2017, plumber James Anderson, who lives and works in England, took a leap of faith to do just that.
RELATED: Electrician Fixes Struggling Couple’s Heat For Free So They Trick Him Into Returning
God gave this family man a special heart for the elderly. And when he saw another business taking advantage of an elderly man, he just knew he had to do something.
View this post on Instagram
So, James shut down his private business and opened his non-profit called Depher (which stands for Disabled & Elderly Plumbing & Heating Emergency Repair)!
Depher Non-Profit Born Out Of Dream To Help Others
The mission of Depher is to provide low-cost or free service to those in need.
"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," plumber James Anderson explained. "It shouldn’t be happening – that number should be down to zero. Simple as that."
RELATED: Man Discovers 85-Year-Old Next Door Neighbor Has Spent A Year Living Without Running Water
Depher is the definition of a passion project. The non-profit relies solely on crowdfunding and donations to get the job done. In fact, James has even gone into debt because he refuses to turn his back on someone in need.
"To me, debt is debt… I would rather owe some money to somebody and another person be alive and happy and safe," he says. "It’s an ethos that’s in my heart and it will always stay there."
As much as he can, plumber James Anderson offers his services for free. And when funding is low, he still offers his plumbing services at a deeply discounted price. His goal isn't to make money for himself -- he just wants to help others.
"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," the humble hero said.
View this post on Instagram
Plumber James Anderson's Act Of Kindness Goes Viral
Though James has been running Depher since 2017, it was his act of kindness for a 91-year-old woman that ended up making International news a few years later. And it left everyone in awe of the man one woman describes as an "angel dressed as a plumber."
The woman who said this is Christine Rowlands. And Christine's mother is the 91-year-old woman plumber James Anderson so selflessly served.
RELATED: 72-Year-Old Woman Quietly Lived In Crumbling House Until An Electrician Learned Her Secret
James paid a visit to the woman's house to fix a broken boiler. But when it came time to charge the 91-year-old woman for his services, James presented her with a $0 bill.
His good deed gained viral attention when the invoice was shared online, reading, "No charge for this lady under any circumstances. We will be available 24 hours to help her and keep her as comfortable as possible."
WATCH: Plumber Uses Talents To Bless Less Fortunate
Support For Depher Following International Attention
Many hailed plumber James Anderson a hero after hearing of his generous mission. Praise and support has poured in from all around the world, much to the amazement of the humble plumber.
He received donations to help pay off his debts and fund future projects, along with offers to help advertise his services free of charge. Best of all, James said it started inspiring others to help the elderly in their own communities.
RELATED: After A Woman’s Tearful Plea, Hero Bus Driver Breaks Protocol And Goes Off-Route To Help Her
"People are talking about doing it in America, France, and Australia, and they’re all going to contact me to get advice and guidance as to how to do it in their countries," James said. "Hopefully… we can bring all communities together for one common cause across the planet, so everybody who’s elderly and disabled, not just in the UK, can benefit from something like this in society."
Then, the global COVID-19 pandemic hit and even more people needed Depher's help!
COVID Brings New Calling For Plumber James Anderson
There's no doubt plumber James Anderson has a huge heart. And when the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, he realized a bigger calling for his services.
Originally, James and Depher focused on providing plumbing and heating assistance for the disabled and elderly. And over the years, he's helped more than 10,000 vulnerable families!
But as the impact of COVID-19 shook James' community, he expanded his services.
RELATED: 114 Families Were Going To Be Without Power At Christmas But Then A Stranger Stepped In
During the pandemic, plumber James Anderson began providing food, PPE, and even paying bills for people. He's spent what equates to more than $70,000 US during the pandemic alone. But the humble hero says it's been "worth every penny" to help those in need.
“If you’ve got disabilities, issues, sometimes these things can become too difficult to overcome and we want to make sure they’re taken care of,” James said. “We’ve all got a social responsibility to each other – we need to be there for each other.”
Prayers For Plumber James Anderson
The pandemic impacted plumber James Anderson personally, as he has battled and survived COVID-19 himself. He started the pandemic as "a healthy 52-year-old" working 70+ hours a week to serve those in need.
"Now he struggles to breathe or do normal things," reports the Depher GoFundMe page.
James' health battle means he's had to cut back tremendously on the hours he works. But Depher, the organization he's founded, has grown so much over the years, it is able to continue aiding the community without missing a beat!
"We know that he [James] will make a full recovery as soon as possible," an update on the GoFundMe page declares. "He has a loving family and God on his side."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: God’s Garage Is Working To Help Women In Need Get Back On The Road
What an incredible story of just how much good can come from even just one act of kindness!
LISTEN: Janitor Surprise, Walmart Act of Kindness, & Untold Titanic Miracle
h/t: Metro UK
Featured Image: Instagram/Depher UK
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Those Who Are Lonely or Isolated This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 23
This Christmas, remember how precious you are to the Creator. Remember that there is nothing you can do or say that would ever separate His presence and love from you. It’s okay to go through Christmas feeling alone and isolated, but make sure you turn to God to fill those feelings of loneliness.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Those Who Are Lonely or Isolated This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 23
This Christmas, remember how precious you are to the Creator. Remember that there is nothing you can do or say that would ever separate His presence and love from you. It’s okay to go through Christmas feeling alone and isolated, but make sure you turn to God to fill those feelings of loneliness.
Past Stories
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
- Little Boy From England With Leukemia Delivers Over 400 Christmas Gifts To Kids At the Hospital
- Gold Star Family Receives a Big Surprise That Will Change Their Lives Forever
- 8-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Is a Hero After Saving Sister From House Fire
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Jeremy Camp Jeremy Camp 'Ready Now' Powerful Official Music Video
Mark Schultz 'Different Kind of Christmas' - Live From Mark Schultz
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold
Kari Jobe Kari Jobe - First Love
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.