The Carlyn Estates Mobile Home Park in Palmetto, Florida threatened to evict several of its poor, elderly residents for accepting food donations. This is a brand new low, even by Florida’s standards.
Tonia Sonju, the park’s manager, gave Pearl Jones, 81, a handwritten letter stating that if Jones didn’t stop accepting food donations from a local church, she would get evicted. Sonju has reportedly issued similar threats to other residents in the park.
“The owner had her people follow the delivery trucks and mark down the numbers of the trailers who got it,” said Jones. “Now, no one will accept food. They don’t want to get evicted. This lady [Sonju] is from California and she said no one in here needs it.”
One of the people targeted by Sonju is Tim McCoyle, an employee of Meals on Wheels PLUS. McCoyle not only started the food delivery program for the residents, but he is also a recipient who wants to help the people around him.
“Tim realized how many people in this park are low income,” said resident Sandra Swift. “He said he wanted to start a food bank right here in the park. Tim is the one who contacted the church and got things started. We helped him distribute it. But now Tonia is giving violations to Tim for everything she can think of.”
Watch the report from the Bradenton Herald.
