Support Sonya and D’Amia After Hurricane Milton

My neighbor Sonya is in desperate need of your financial support. Recent hurricane damage to her home is unprecedented and she is not able to repair the damage alone. Without your gift, she could be forced to leave her cherished, life-long home forever.

As the oldest city in the United States braced for Hurricane Milton, most of St. Augustine residents breathed a sigh of relief in its passing, but not Sonya Jones. She was unfortunately caught off guard by a weakened oak tree which fell directly on her home. Thankfully Sonya and her granddaughter D’Amia evacuated from the Lincolnville Historic District to a safe place during the storm, but the damage to her house is extensive.

Sonya and her family have been a part of the Lincolnville community for her entire life. Her grandparents owned Jones Record and TV repair on MLK Ave. Sounds of laughter and music are common coming from Sonya’s back yard. Many people in the neighborhood have eaten crabs, barbecue, played cards, laughed, and had the best of times at this house. Sonya is a fantastic cook and she has fed many people from her kitchen. Her famous deviled eggs are always a hit.

In a town overrun by short term rentals, new construction, and few remaining families. Sonya’s home is more than a house, it is the hub of a community. The almost 100 year old historic home has recently been renovated and remodeled in continuation with the preservation of one of the most important neighborhoods in the civil rights movement. The house was lifted to avoid flooding which is a common occurrence in Lincolnville. New kitchen floor and cabinets, a new bathroom, new windows, outdoor siding, new indoor walls, and a new roof have now been destroyed. Sonya and D’Amia had only recently settled back months before Milton’s wave of destruction.. Unfortunately like many homes in Florida these days, Sonya did not have insurance.

Sonya Jones is a proud, lifelong member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, of which she is a choir member. She is self-employed as a house cleaner and she is raising her 9 year old granddaughter.

Please donate anything you can to help get Sonya and D’Amia back into their historic home. All of the proceeds will be used to restore the house to its original charm.