Audrey and Chad Warren are Tampa residents – and everyday heroes – who recently donated $500 to help Tampa families pay their utility bills this holiday season.
“I saw the story on the news about the man in Gulf Breeze who paid utility bills for people in his town. It inspired me,” says Audrey. “I told my husband I wanted to do something big, like that man.”
Audrey is passionate about her reasons for giving. “We are so blessed. Neither of us lost our jobs or got furloughed because of COVID-19. We’re healthy. We don’t have problems paying our bills.”
She confides that as a child, Chad experienced having the power turned off due to unpaid bills. When she shared her idea with him, he jumped at the opportunity to prevent another child from experiencing life without electricity.
So Audrey picked up the phone and called Tampa Electric, where she learned about Share, a partnership between Tampa Electric, Peoples Gas and the Salvation Army. Share helps people pay their energy bills.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas suspended turning off power or natural gas for customers who were behind on their bills. The companies jointly donated $500,000 to Share, and with the help of local partners and customers, have helped 5,000 families this year. But still there is still need.
Audrey and her husband shared the hope with their donation this week. And then shared it again by asking her team members at work to donate, too.
It just goes to show that anyone can make a difference and a better life for others.
If you’d like to join Audrey and Chad and make a difference, visit our Share page.
(Feature photo credit: Courtesy Amy Pezzicara of Pezz Photo.)
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