(CNN) A Florida business owner who was once down on his luck is giving back by covering the utility bills of 114 families who were facing disconnection. Michael Esmond's generosity started last year when he paid the utility bills of 36 households in his community of Gulf Breeze. Beyond the coronavirus pandemic's economic toll, Gulf Breeze has dealt with the lingering effects of Hurricane Sally , which hit the panhandle hard. A storm-related accident damaged a section of the newly built Pensacola Bay Bridge that connects to Gulf Breeze, authorities said in September. "I can relate to people suffering and not being able to pay bills," Esmond said.

Source: CNN December 11, 2020 00:22 UTC