Generous Florida Man Pays Off Utility Bills of More Than 100 Struggling Families

• A generous man who experienced being cold after he could not pay his gas and water bills now pays for others.
• Michael Esmond says this year’s pandemic and Hurricane Sally make it even more difficult for struggling families.  
• Esmond has paid more than $7,000 for bills of 114 Gulf Breeze families.

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In 1983, Michael Esmond was so hard up, he and his daughters had to spend Christmas without heat and power. They experienced icicles hanging off from their windows as temperatures dropped to just 9 degrees in Pensacola.

“I can relate to people suffering and not being able to pay bills,” Esmond said. “That’s probably one of the biggest motivators for me, because I’ve been there.”

Before Christmas last year, Esmond paid nearly $4,600 in gas and water bills for 36 Gulf Breeze families in similar circumstances that they were in back in 1983.

Now, for the second year in a row, he has paid off utility bills amounting to $7,615.40 of dozens of struggling families.

As confirmed by Joanne Oliver, the city’s billing supervisor, this helped 114 families who were facing disconnection of water, gas and sewer services.

Oliver said, “Even though our country and our city is currently going through probably the most difficult years of some of our lifetimes, there are still people out there who are generous and kind and really do want to help others.”

This year’s pandemic and Hurricane Sally has really caused people to lose their jobs, stay at home, and make it difficult to make ends meet.

Esmond said that his business has made good this year and so he wants to share what he has with other people who need it.

Esmond, 74, explained, “People can’t afford to pay their bills and put food on the table, so I hope doing my part and paying some bills for these folks takes a little bit of stress off of them around Christmas time.”

This week, the notices that Esmond has paid off their bills will be sent out to the Gulf Breeze households who were at-risk.  They would not have to worry now.

Source: PEOPLE