(CNN) When Michael Esmond got his utility bills -- due December 26 -- his mind went straight to the 1980s, when he had trouble making ends meet.
So the Florida business owner found out who in his Gulf Breeze community was at risk of having their utilities disconnected. Then, he paid 36 families' bills ahead of Christmas.
Esmond, who owns Gulf Breeze Pools & Spa near Pensacola, told CNN he spent $4,600 to give his neighbors "a happier Christmas and take a little bit of stress out."
"I actually lived that back in the 1980s," he said. "I experienced the same thing, having trouble paying bills. My gas was shut off, and we had no heating for the whole winter."
"It was one of the coldest winters in Florida; temperature got down to the single digits," Esmond continued. "That was definitely in my mind when I received the bill this year."
hobnailboots04 on December 18th, 2019 at 23:49 UTC »
How!? They won’t even let my wife pay the bill in OK without a blood sample and copy of my birth certificate.
Avocadosareawesome on December 18th, 2019 at 23:42 UTC »
Worked customer service for an electric company and it was the most depressing job. So many people crying to keep their lights on because they had to choose between feeding their kids or keeping the lights on. The saddest one was a mom who had an infant crying in the background around summer time and saying she couldn’t pay for another 4 days. I only lasted a month there. Edit: spelling
E1invar on December 18th, 2019 at 23:35 UTC »
It’s nice to see a positive Florida man story for a change!