CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Providing Christmas gifts for families in the Campbell Heights mobile home park facing eviction in the coming months was the mission on Saturday, Dec. 19, for one local ministry.
As Clarksville Now reported in mid-November, eviction notices were posted Oct. 20 on trailer doors, alerting residents of the 98 mobile homes comprising the park on Darrow Road near Fort Campbell Boulevard that they had until Jan. 20 to find somewhere else to live.
YAIPaks and Fort Care collaborate
YAIPaks Outreach, the ministry helping the Campbell Heights families, was started by Sherry Nicholson. She found herself homeless once, and once back on her feet she realized she needed to do something to help others in that situation. What started with handing out purses to people experiencing homelessness has turned into a full-fledged ministry, complete with a warehouse in downtown Clarksville.
Debbie Fields, the YAIPaks representative for this event, and volunteer Codie Maile collaborated on the event after hearing about what was happening to the families facing eviction. The pair along with Nicholson volunteered today to pass out gifts and food boxes.
Along with two trucks, the ministry caravanned around Campbell Heights with Santa, bringing him to the children on a flatbed trailer.
“We just knew we had to do something, and sure enough, everything fell into place at just the right time,” Fields told Clarksville Now. “It’s just to hardest situation, and although we cannot help everyone or fix the problem, we wanted to make sure the families have a brighter Christmas.”
They brought all of the gifts directly to the families’ trailers. “This is what it is all about, we’re taking it right to their door. And we were thinking about COVID,” Fields said Saturday.
Fort Care was also on site, working in conjunction with YAIPaks. The group donated enough food boxes for 125 families, and 150 gallons of milk, and rented a U-Haul to pass out the boxes to residents at their homes.
“There are a lot of veterans out here too, but we wanted to make sure everyone was fed,” said Ron Fahy, who brought the Fort Care food boxes.
Several of the older children living in Campbell Heights, and many of those who had been the recipients of the gifts, began asking for ways to help YAIPaks and Fort Care. They too began walking the park, carrying boxes of food and gifts to their neighbors.
“My heart is full, that’s all I ever need in life,” 12-year-old Destiny Dunn said after delivering food boxes in the neighborhood.
Campbell Heights status update
Caryn, the single mom of four daughters who lives in Campbell Heights, was also gifted with Christmas presents for her children and food boxes. As her daughters were racing toward Santa with breakneck pace, she said, “I just feel so blessed that this many people care.”
“I don’t know how to say thank you enough for having our little community help and everybody’s blessings. It touches my heart,” Caryn continued.
Another resident, who has lived in the park off and on for years, also received Fort Care food boxes from YAIPaks volunteers.
“I used to live in this trailer park when I was 16 years old. I’m 54 now, and I’ve been back in this park since 1998, and in this particular trailer since 2001, and now they want to do away with us,” resident Donna Bundy said.
John Shilkitus, who lives with his wife in one of the mobile homes, received Fort Care food boxes too. He and his wife have found a place to move come eviction time, but it’s an additional $260 a month, and he worries they won’t be able to afford it after utilities and taxes.
“Living here, there’s a big convenience of having a Walgreens right over there and a few food places,” Shilkitus said.
“(My wife and I) are both on disability. I can probably get my medications delivered, but my wife’s, you can’t because she’s on TennCare. Where we are moving, I will have to take a bus 45 minutes to get her medications. She’s bound to a walker since she just had hip surgery.”
Lingering confusion
These residents continue to wade through confusion regarding their eviction date, as many have received mixed messages about the park’s final date. One letter, from the park’s former manager Allen Berry, told residents their eviction date was Jan. 20, 2021.
Others received a second letter, this one from Robert Durrett, stating that residents had until the end of May 2021 to leave their homes. He is the primary planner for the new housing area on the 13-acre property. Durrett bought the land for $1.5 million in January, according to county records.
“I am in negations with Mr. Berry right now, but I don’t know the outcome,” Durrett told Clarksville Now. “So Mr. Berry has some mobile homes that he owns that he’s renting to people too so that’s different than me just owning the lot.”
Berry also owns several of the trailers leased to residents, and his lease at the park expires at the end of January. Durrett said Berry will be given until the end of May to move his trailers too.
“And then they’ve got til the end of May and hopefully the people will be able to find something and we’ll work with people all they can to help them get another place or whatever,” Durrett said.
Lottie Lane, a resident who lives in the park but owns her land, moved to her home in December 1960. She owns her home and lot, so she was the only Campbell Heights resident not included in the eviction. She doesn’t know what will happen come May.
“My son called Mr. Durrett, and asked ‘What will happen to my mother’s home?'” the 91-year-old told Clarksville Now. “He can build around me for all I care. He will have to pay me to leave my home,” Lane continued.
Berry was unavailable for comment due to personal matters.