LOCAL HERO
Broxburn shopkeeper helps out with drops of essentials
A local hero has stepped up yet again to support people in his community amid the coronavirus crisis.
Broxburn shopkeeper Waz Abbas has been making sure everyone who lives in the area can get what they need as supermarkets around the county report bare shelves amid panic buying.
He has been making trips to suppliers twice a day to make sure he is fully stocked up.
And he has been rationing soughtafter items like loo roll and baby milk and delivering essentials to people in self-isolation or who are elderly and infirm.
Waz was hailed a hero two years ago during the Beast from the East when, like the rest of the country, people in Broxburn found the shelves were bare when they tried to buy bread and milk as delivery vehicles struggled to make it through the snow.
And when he heard that one of his customers had run out of milk for her baby, he stepped in to help by setting out on a 50-mile round trip to a dairy farm in Bonnybridge – twice – in his 4X4.
And when he’s not coming to the rescue of local people, Waz travels to Greece and Libya to help refugees through the charity Edinburgh Cares.
The shopkeeper, who owns Waz’s Convenience Store on Goschen Place, has again been praised by locals.
But Waz brushed it all aside, saying he just wants to give back to the people who have supported him.
He said: “It’s been absolutely mental. What’s the world coming to when you have to ration toilet roll?
“I’ve been going on a run every day, sometimes twice, to stock up on
WAZ STEPS IN TO SAVE THE DAY
the things my customers need, like baby milk and have been limiting things as well.
“We’ve also been doing deliveries, which we do anyway, to people in selfisolation, making sure they have everything they need.”
He continued: “We just want to give something back to the community that has always supported us.”
Local people took to the Courier’s Facebook page to tell Waz how much they appreciate what he does.
Dee Wilkinson said: “Waz Abbas really is an amazing man. Very deserving of some recognition. No matter what is thrown at us, be it severe weather, food allergies or this horrible virus, Waz is there to help.
“I am sure the whole community of Broxburn, Uphall, Pumpherston and Uphall Station would be in agreement that Waz is an amazing person.”
Jem Finllayson said: “Waz Abbas deserves recognition. Even in the face of seriously tough competition, he has still gone out of his way to get the things this community needs.
“During the snow whiteout in the spring a couple of years ago, the whole country was at a standstill but Waz made several runs to the dairy and bakery himself to get people the bread and milk which wasn’t available anywhere.
“A lot of shop owners might have thrown in the towel by now but Waz really is invested in our community, he really gets to know and cares about his customers.”
Caley Brown said: “Waz Abbas has been absolutely incredible, but not just for coronavirus.
“This man is a complete trooper doing all he can too help everyone all year round. He even personally delivered myself and my girls some basic items we needed this week for our food shop.
“He had plenty more to deliver in the back of his car too. He is taking his time going round everyone and he is doing it with no thought for himself and only for others. “He also does this with no need or want for anything in return. Absolute hero.”
Do you know a local hero who has gone above and beyond for the community amid the coronavirus crisis? Please e-mail debbie.hall@ reachplc.com.