A number of Kirkby hackney drivers made a heartwarming gesture this morning to vulnerable residents in the town amid coronavirus fears.
On Tuesday night, word spread on social media that a consortium of taxi driver colleagues were offering free transport to and from Kirkby town centre this morning, March 18, so the elderly and vulnerable could precure all essentials needed for self isolation.
Between 9am and 11am, around 25 community-hero drivers, who organised the gesture over a Whatsapp group, drove dozens of “grateful” residents to get their shopping as a selfless way to do their bit for the community.
The outbreak of coronavirus has so far led to multiple events being cancelled across Merseyside and beyond and the government has advised people to avoid social situations such as pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Over 70s and those with underlying health conditions have been classed amongst those most at risk.
Local hackney driver Paul Hill, 43, originally extended the free service to just close family and friends online on Monday night.
But after seeing the demand and hearing of others struggling, he reached out to a number of other drivers in Kirkby who were more than willing to get involved - and the response was “immense.”
Paul told the ECHO: “I put a post out on social media, mainly for family members and friends to begin with and then it got a lot more interest and it took off from there.
“I’ve got a daughter who is 23 and is disabled, so I just wanted to do something and give back to the community.
“The next day we formed a WhatsApp group of about 25 local hackney drivers who came on board to help.
“The response was just immense, one Facebook group got in contact and said the post they shared had reached 85,000 people.
“The comments were a mix, there were people sharing the information and a few praise, which is not what we were doing it for.
“Kirkby people come together, especially when it’s needed. It’s a close knit-community and whenever you need help we’re there.
“Today we’ve been doing a taxi service for the elderly and the most vulnerable in local areas in Kirkby to Kirkby town shopping centre in order to get them to Iceland to get products that they need to get them through the weeks coming.
“We started it from 9am, as the shops were open specifically from 9am to 11am for that purpose, but we ended up carrying on until around 1pm cause people were still coming out.”
Paul said around 50 people used the service this morning and drivers also helped residents in surrounding areas such as Fazakerley and Knowsley Village.
And that drivers are going above and beyond to ensure the safety of residents, not only getting them to their destination and back, but doing everything from wearing gloves to thoroughly cleaning the taxis.
He said: “They were very grateful those who came into the taxis, they were overwhelmed by the generosity of what we were doing for them and ensuring their safety.
“Our taxis are an ideal environment for the elderly and the vulnerable to travel in as they’re cleansed all the time and the drivers keep on top of them all day long.
“It’s important that the community comes together at times like this.”
Paul said the group is hoping to continue the service weekly to ensure those in need are not completely isolated, but specific plans are still being discussed.
He said it’s important for others to also “not abuse the service” as it’s for the elderly and vulnerable who have “no other option” to get their necessities safely.
He said: “I’d like to say a big thankyou to all my drivers, all the colleagues, for today.
“We’ve really come together and achieved something special.”
