A kind-hearted corner shop owner buys and delivers groceries for elderly shoppers who are struggling during the cost of living crisis. Dad-of-two Divyesh Patel has been serving customers as the owner of Tower Stores in New Brighton and Wirral since 2007 and says he just wants to make local people smile.
Divyesh says a lot of his older customers have been hit particularly hard by the cost of living crisis, leaving them without money for food. To help them, he orders what they need and delivers it to them, and they can pay him for them when they get given more cash.
As well as helping around eight to 10 older customers in this way, Divyesh also does a lot for charity and local schools. He most recently partnered with a local school to provide breakfasts for hungry children, the Liverpool ECHO reports.
While Divyesh first opened his store on Seabank Road as a "challenge" and a "new opportunity" while his two young children were growing up, his shop has now become a vital resource for those in need. He now says his motive is making people smile.
Sadly, the convenience store has seen a rise in the number of people needing their help in recent months, as more and more people are stung by increasing rents, mortgages, energy and food prices. Divyesh now sees it as his "civic duty" to help people where he can.
Speaking to the ECHO, Divyesh said: "I do like to do charity and want to put a smile on the face of the people. Anytime, anywhere somebody needs me I will always help them. Even recently, you will be surprised, I have about eight to 10 customers who we supply with groceries or whatever they need on credit up to £300.
"They are all old age people and because of this crisis, the energy crisis and all of this, they don't have much money left for food and day-to-day. We deliver and give them whatever they order and when they get money they pay us."
Divyesh said "bringing a smile" to his customers faces is his "motive". He added: "I think, in a way, this is my civic duty to look after my community. My community has looked after us for so many years, without them I was nothing. This is what we are at the minute is their continuous support."
The convenience store owner said he has seen an increase in the number of people needing his help in recent months. He said: "One of the regular customers had no money, [he was] in debt and he called me and said 'this is my situation now, I don't have gas, I don't have electric'. I said 'OK come to the shop and I will top up sometime'.
"I topped up £20 gas and £20 electric and when he has money he can pay. One thing I can tell you is that they come with hope. They say 'OK let me go to Mr Patel's and he will sort out something'. Whatever I can do, I will do."
The dad-of-two has won many accolades for his customer service and going above and beyond. Back in 2019, Divyesh was crowned as one of the "best loved shopkeepers" in the ECHO for his excellent customer service and also for going above and beyond for those who visit his shop.
