High Springs 'guardian angel' does good deeds on sly

Los Angeles might not be the only place known as a city of angels.

In January, an anonymous citizen of High Springs approached the City Hall’s Finance Department and told them to dig up and print some overdue, unpaid utility bills.

The person then paid them on the spot, requesting to remain anonymous.

This deed, along with many that followed, has city officials calling the donor the city’s “guardian angel.”

After paying two bills that month, the guardian angel returned in February to pay off another bill that amounted to over $1,000.

When the town called one of the recipients, City of High Springs Public Information Officer Kevin Mangan was told they immediately burst into tears.

“It’s coming at a much needed time,” Mangan said.

He was proud to include that the random act of kindness was not the first or second the city has seen.

Two years ago, two High Springs firefighters bought a microwave with their own money for a housebound senior citizen.

“Our citizens are not averse to helping one another out,” Mangan said.

And at the height of the pandemic, around April, a resident went into the Winn-Dixie in High Springs and gave $20,000. The donor requested the grocery store break the contribution up into $100 gift cards and give it to the people in need of food deliveries. 

High Springs has not been able to confirm if the Winn-Dixie donor is the same guardian angel who pays off utility bills.

The guardian angel has promised to keep coming in on the first day of every month, find someone’s bills, and pay them.

City officials have tried to get the donor to come forward and be known, but the donor is adamant about staying out of the spotlight, Mangan said.

But word is starting to spread through the city about the do-gooder, he said. 

“I think the more people can be aware, the better. Hopefully, maybe, at some point, this person will come forward so we can thank them. But at the end of the day, I don’t think that is why they’re doing it. Clearly they’re not doing it for the recognition. I think they are just trying to help out,” Mangan said. 

City officials work with residents who are strapped if they need an extension, but there is only so far the city can bend, he said. Having someone like this pitch in is wonderful, Mangan said.

"Whoever this person is, we would love to get a name and properly recognize you. But if not, we totally understand,” he said. “Again, just thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

So far, the guardian angel has paid $2,000 in bills in two months.