Even if we didn t have the hurricane, I felt like the pandemic alone made it more critical for me to do something, Esmond said. Last year, I did something just to help people out. This year, it s more meaningful.
Esmond s second good deed totaled $7,615.40, according to Gulf Breeze Utility Billing Supervisor Joanne Oliver. He paid off about $4,600 worth of bills last year.
Financially, Esmond thrived in 2020. He said he s almost ashamed to admit how successful Gulf Breeze Pools and Spas was this year, as his company directly benefited from Sally and the pandemic. When people sat at home last spring with nothing to do, they bought swimming pools, Esmond said. When we had the hurricane, and so many places were damaged, that gives more work to roofers and contractors. And you know what, it brought in a lot of extra income for me with all the pools that were damaged and underwater. That s why it was more important this year to share with the people in our community.
OVERDUE UTILITY BILLS PAID wcoapensacola.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wcoapensacola.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Florida man pays off 114 outstanding utility bills for his neighbors before Christmas By Caitlin O Kane Man pays neighbors utility bills
Mike Esmond, a great-grandfather and business owner from Gulf Breeze, Florida, is like a guardian angel for his neighbors. Esmond recently paid off the outstanding utility bills for 114 families in his community, totaling $7,600.
He made a similar gift last year, when he paid off 36 bills worth $4,600. This year, however, Esmond felt the gift was more necessary than ever. When we had Hurricane Sally, that did a lot of damage to a lot of residents here, Esmond told CBS News. And the pandemic, I know, has a lot of people out of work. they ve closed up, they ve laid people off. So this year, I felt like I really needed to do something.
Florida man pays $7,600 to cover past-due utility bills for 114 families
By Louis Casiano
GULF BREEZE, Fla. - In a second act of kindness, a Florida business owner is covering the overdue utility bills for 114 families at risk of losing service so close to the holiday season.
Michael Esmond s act of giving is a repeat of last year when he paid the utility bills for 36 families in the panhandle city of Gulf Breeze just before Christmas. Esmond, who owns Gulf Breeze Pools & Spa near Pensacola, told Fox News he donated $7,615 this year as the city faces an economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Sally.
Florida Man Foots Utility Bill for 114 Neighbors Ahead of Pandemic Christmas
On 12/14/20 at 11:36 PM EST
Michael Esmond, the owner of Gulf Breeze Pools & Spas in Florida, spread the holiday spirit in December by paying off some past due utility bills for 114 families in the area.
Esmond performed a similar act of generosity in 2019 when he donated $4,600, which paid the utility bills for 36 homes in the town of Gulf Breeze. This year, Esmond was able to increase the number of families he s helped to 114, with a donation of $7,614.50.
In an interview with WEAR, Esmond said he noticed the due date on some of the utility bills was the day after Christmas and that made me think about maybe people that couldn t afford to pay their bill, but they might go without gas or water during the Christmas holidays.