Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Or maybe a bucket of toiletries like soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes? Or clean usable clothing (or new stuff if you are so inclined) for kids or adults? Or blankets? How about that soccer ball, football, or basketball that has been lying around? Or just about anything that might be of use to someone who fled from home with only the clothes the person was wearing?

On Wednesday evening, Good Samaritan United Methodist Church in Edina is sending a caravan of rented trucks to a refugee center in Arkansas that has taken in a large number of refugees from deadly Katrina. Anything you can contribute will be welcome on the trucks. Just drop the stuff during the day Tuesday or Wednesday until about midafternoon, and it will get there. Directions to the church are in the link above.

If anybody asks how you found out about this, just tell 'em Spotty sent you. If you know of anyone that you think might be able to contribute, please forward this post. If you never forward a post of Spotty's, please forward this one.

If you have been thinking of contributing money but haven't figured out how you want to do that yet, let Spotty suggest UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Methodist churches pay all the administrative expenses of UMCOR through their apportionments, or dues. One hundred percent of your contribution goes to relief of the hurricane victims.

We get reminded once in a while that the family in family values is the family of humankind.

Spot says thanks.