Chef’s super market gesture
UNAVOIDABLE global circumstances may have put Sorell dad Joshua Phillips’s business plans on hold, but his community spirit has not been dented.
Earlier this year Mr Phillips, a chef by trade, quit his kitchen job to launch a touring food van service offering visitors to the state gourmet Tasmanian-ingredient dishes.
After spending $60,000 turning his tourism venture idea into a reality, the brakes were put on the launch of his business, so he decided to turn his attention to helping others.
Atypical of some current grocery buying trends nationwide, Mr Phillips has posted a selfless offer online to help elderly and disabled Tasmanians access the food they need.
He this week set up a Gumtree ad offering to put his new van to use while giving vulnerable Tasmanians some assistance.
“In the absence of fee-paying tourists it’s a shame to let the bus go to waste,” the post reads.
“So, I’m offering up my time to any vulnerable members of my community to help them get to and from Coles or Woolworths Sorell for the early elderly shopping hour – 7-8am.”
Mr Phillips said the uncertainty surrounding where his next paycheck was coming from was causing stress, but said there was a bigger issue at hand.
“I’m just one man with one bus but if I can help out someone just that little bit during these times then that’s a good thing,” he said.
“Food is my thing, I know how to communicate to people with it. It’s something we all need while we’re being told to stay home.
“At the moment my Gumtree ad is just putting the feelers out there for any vulnerable members of the Sorell area who might need help.”
He said in the short term he and his young family will lean on his wife’s teaching salary to get by.
Mr Phillips does not wish to profit from his community gesture but said he is asking for “$5$10 or whatever is affordable” to cover petrol costs.