Florida business enterprise owner pays families’ overdue utility payments

Neglect the crimson go well with and beard. In Gulf Breeze, Florida, Santa owns a pool building business enterprise and drives a pickup truck.

© Glenda Caudle / Gulf Breeze News
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Mike Esmond understands what it truly is like to struggle, particularly throughout the vacations. Thirty-7 several years ago, he experienced to select which invoice not to fork out. In Florida, he chose the warmth.

“That was a significant miscalculation, for the reason that we experienced the coldest winter season we ever had in historical past exactly where it obtained to 6 levels. I mean, we had ice in the property,” Esmond said.

The 74-12 months-aged, who identified economical safety only a several decades ago with his own organization, under no circumstances forgot his wrestle. So last year he went to Metropolis Hall and cleared the delinquent accounts of 36 families. It expense him $4,600. 

“Period of Offering”: Small business proprietor aids family members fork out overdue bills

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Mike Esmond, operator of Gulf Breeze Pool and Spas in Gulf Breeze, Florida, compensated off the exceptional utility expenses of much more than 100 people right before Christmas.  / Credit: Handout / Mike Esmond

This calendar year, the require is even higher. On top rated of the coronavirus pandemic, Hurricane Sally ripped through the place in September. So he did it yet again — he paid $7,615 to distinct 114 overdue accounts.

“I never know of a much better way of helping another person out at Xmas time other than spending their invoice that they are heading to be disconnected on,” Esmond explained.

As an alternative of having a disconnection discover in the mail, the households gained a card that claimed, “Your previous due utility monthly bill has been paid by Gulf Breeze Pool & Spas. You can relaxation less difficult this getaway season figuring out you have a person considerably less monthly bill to shell out.”

Kimberly Haywood, who has two youthful sons, experienced her sewer bill paid off following her companion was laid off from a cafe that closed. Now she can invest in Christmas gifts.

“It was a whole shock. I was just absolutely astonished,” Haywood explained. “Certainly a blessing.”