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From strangers, gifts of joy

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER
Published March 4, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Julia Kumari Drapkin] Timothy and Shannon Carmack, with their son, Christopher, have been overwhelmed with donations since a Feb. 12th story on their plight.

A story in the Pasco Times profiling the plight of Timothy Carmack struck a chord with readers. Carmack, who developed serious medical problems after being bitten by a parasite during his service in Vietnam, has been overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers. The Hudson man and his wife, Shannon, have received everything from cash to food to dishwashing liquid. Donations have ranged from $25 to $1,000. The total in checks and cash: $3,000. "It has opened up my world again," Carmack, 61, said. "It just filled my heart with joy and relief." Here's a list of donations the Carmacks received:

- The Veterans Action Project in Spring Hill also donated an electric scooter.

- Tom Sawyer and the Kiwanis Club in Wesley Chapel will build a wheelchair ramp March 10 at the house.

- A Hudson woman gave $1,000 cash to cover the family's February and March mortgage payments.

- An anonymous donor set up an $1,800 fund at Colonial Bank.

- A man from Darron Air and Heat will fix the family's air conditioner, do vent work and reset the unit.

- The Veterans Action Project in Spring Hill paid off the family's bills: a $667 electric bill, $1,277 to cover the December and January mortgage, a $754 truck payment and a $45 medical bill for Carmack's son. - A woman and her co-workers brought over food. - Disabled American Veterans No. 67 in Brooksville donated a wheelchair lift for the family's Chevy truck.

- The ring Shannon Carmack gave to her mother to sell for groceries was returned mysteriously in her mailbox Wednesday.

- Able insurance company in New Port Richey brought over food and toiletries.

[Last modified March 3, 2007, 20:52:15]