Fundraisers to be held for Karl Thaning


OCSD Chief Deputy Winston Collins holds the Barnett Raptor crossbow that will be raffled off April 15.

Friends and local residents have organized some ways to help Karl and Sonya Thaning while Karl recovers from Guillain-Barre syndrome. Here are three different fundraisers aimed at helping the couple through this difficult time.  

Barnett Raptor crossbow raffle

The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department is raffling off a Barnett Raptor crossbow with three arrows, broadheads and field tips. Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5, and can be purchased at the sheriff’s office or through Chief Deputy Winston Collins. The winner will be drawn April 15. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the OCSD at 417-679-4633. All proceeds will benefit Karl Thaning. 

“We really wanted to get together and do something for him,” Collins told the Times. “He’s been a good friend to law enforcement for as long as I’ve known him.”

Collins said that through the years the OCSD has worked extensively with Karl, a licensed firearms dealer with his own company, Shrapnel Arms, to purchase most of the department’s firearms. The business, which deals in new and used firearms and also buys, sells and trades in firearms, was mostly run by Karl before he contracted GBS. Sonya said she has been filling in for Karl to keep the business up and running while he’s recovering.  

“When we were in the hospital and rehab center in St. Louis, Karl couldn’t move, much less do what needed to be done for the business. I’d try to wake up around 3 a.m. and drive home once a week to fill, package and ship orders out,” she said. “We’re still operating now.” 

for more information visit shrapnelarms.com. 

Taco salad lunch

Gainesville resident Kasey McKee is organizing a taco salad lunch for Tuesday, Feb. 26, with all proceeds benefiting the Thanings. The taco salads will come with ground beef, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, green onions, black olives and shredded cheese with sour cream and salsa on the side. Kasey says the salads will be sold for a suggested donation of $8, and if more money is given, it will all go to Sonya and Karl. Kasey is taking orders through her Facebook page, but orders will be limited to 75 total. To place an order, go to Facebook and search for “Kasey McKee.” Scroll down her page to find the taco salad post, and comment to place an order. 

Kasey says the taco salad theme is in honor of Sonya and Karl’s other business, their well-known food truck. 

“Most Gainesville residents know Sonya and Karl from their Fried & Frozen food truck. Karl has had some severe medical problems, and Sonya has been taking care of him, leaving her unable to open the truck up. I know we all miss it! To pay homage to her menu, we thought taco salad would be perfect,” Kasey’s Facebook post says. 

The food truck, usually manned by Sonya in the parking lot in front of Bennett’s Auto Repair on Highway 160 in Gainesville, has been closed since Karl was first taken to the emergency room in early December. 

Go Fund Me account

A Go Fund Me online campaign has also been organized as a way friends and acquaintances can contribute financially to help the Thanings. The gofundme.com campaign, titled ‘Help support Karl and Sonya as Karl recovers,” was created early this week and has a goal of raising $10,000. At press time,  a little over $1,600 had already been raised. 

“I have personally known this couple over 30 years and they have always been the first to volunteer to help anyone and everyone that ever needed anything,” campaign organizer Kim Wagoner wrote. “They love and serve the Lord in all they do, but now they are the ones that need help. Sonya can’t return to running the truck until Karl has regained more mobility. Any donations that you can make to help them through this challenging time will be an answer to many prayers.”

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423