Brighten Your Day

Man Who Once Spent Christmas Without Gas Paid Off The Dues For 36 Families At Risk Of Losing Power

December 19, 2019

A man Gulf Breeze, Florida, paid the utility bills for 36 families who were at risk for having their power shut off this holiday season.

When Michael Esmond received his most recent utility bill, his mind went straight to the 80s when he was struggling to make ends meet.

So, he found out who in his Gulf Breeze community was at risk of having their utilities disconnected and paid their bill.

"Back in the 80s I actually lived that," said Esmond. "I experienced a time where I had trouble paying bills. And we actually had the gas disconnected. It happened to be one of the coldest winters in history."

Esmond spent $4,600 to give his neighbors "a happier Christmas and take a little bit of stress out."

"It made me cry. It made me cry," Joanne Oliver, Gulf Breeze's utility billing supervisor, told WEAR. "For someone like him, a veteran to come in and do some grand gesture. It was heartfelt for me."

Instead of warnings, the 36 families received holiday cards from the city.