He Recalled His Winter With No Heat - Florida businessman pays off utility bills for 36 families
He Recalled His Winter With No Heat. Out Came His Wallet
Florida businessman ponies up $4.6K to pay off utility bills for 36 families
https://www.newser.com/story/284563/he-spent-a-winter-without-heat-now-36-families-wont-have-to.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_world_img_b
When Michael Esmond saw the Dec. 26 due date on his utility bill, he had a flashback to 1983. "My gas was shut off, and we had no heating for the whole winter," one of the coldest ever in Florida, the 73-year-old father of three tells CNN. Indeed, as the temperature dipped to 9 degrees on Christmas Day, "we had icicles hanging off our windows," the Gulf Breeze business owner tells the Pensacola News Journal. His thoughts upon receiving his most recent bill immediately turned to those who might suffer a similar fate this year. Now, 36 families won't have to. Esmond, of Gulf Breeze Pools and Spas, tracked down a list of accounts with overdue bills, then paid $4,600 to settle them. The community's utility billing supervisor was left in tears, as was mother of four Angela Cascio, who received the good news in a holiday card.
"You can rest easier this holiday season knowing you have one less bill to pay," read the note, which prompted Cascio to burst into tears. "Angels absolutely walk among us," she told the News Journal in a Facebook message, noting her children, ages 7 to 17, might otherwise have gone without Christmas presents. "I am forever grateful. Esmond tells CNN there's been "great feedback" on Facebook, while people have also been calling and texting him with their thanks. "I wanted to do something that I felt would really help people at Christmas" and "it makes me feel good," the Vietnam veteran tells the News Journal. "I'm finally at a point in my life where I'm not struggling with bills anymore and I can share some of my success," he adds. "You don't have to be a millionaire to help people." (Read more uplifting news stories.)
https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2019/12/17/gulf-breeze-man-pays-utility-bills-36-families-before-christmas/2663196001/
Instead of sending out notices that their gas and water were being shut off, the city sent out cards notifying the 36 households of Esmond's act of kindness:
"It is our honor and privilege to inform you that your past due utility bill has been paid by Gulf Breeze Pools and Spas," the card read. "You can rest easier this holiday season knowing you have one less bill to pay."
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Angela Cascio was stunned when she checked her mailbox a week ago and found the Christmas card letting her know her utility bills had been paid.
The mother of four kids between the ages of 7 and 17 had gotten behind on her payments and was struggling to keep up while also buying gifts for Christmas.
"Without (Gulf Breeze Pools) paying that bill, my kids' Christmases would have greatly suffered," Cascio told the News Journal in a Facebook message on Monday. "Angels absolutely walk among us, and they are the epitome of kindness and what 'paying it forward' means to me."
Cascio said she couldn't help but cry when she read the card and realized her debts had been paid. She has since made an ornament depicting the Nativity scene and is planning on giving it to Esmond to thank him for what he did for her.
"My kids are old enough that they see their mom struggle to make ends meet," she said. "They saw me burst into tears when I read the card that Gulf Breeze Pools sent to me. I am forever grateful."
= new reply since forum marked as read
you're crying...
The world needs more people like this man. He is such an inspiration. 
