Care Packages for College Students

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Princess_Abby

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My littlest sister is finally off at college and I would like to send her regular care packages. For the life of me, I can’t remember what I used to really want when I was in school. (Besides money! :)) Cell phones were just becoming popular when I first went off to school, so I didn’t have one and I do remember wanting phone cards, but that wouldn’t apply for my sister since she’s had a cell phone for years.

Any creative ideas? She hasn’t even been there 24 hours but I know it’d be fun for her if she got something by next week.
 
A roll of quarters for the washing machines? some of those snack packs (you know the 100 Calorie packs) of crackers, cookies etc.? some candy bars or just a card (either e-mail or snail mail). Or a mug with packets of hot drink mixes and teas.

Just a few thoughts from a mom who has just sent her youngest off to college for the second year.

Brenda V.
 
…stop at subway and McDonalds, and ger her some coupon books…

…or the eatery of her choice…

good luck:thumbsup:

 
Send food! College students love food! Send good healthy stuff, though, as well as some candy. My mom sent me food each month when I was in England last year (okay, dad got really really cheap shipping through his company) and it was a Godsend! Granted, my already above-average appetite was in overdrive from the basketball team, but still, you can’t go wrong with food.

Gift certificates to get off campus and do something, like movie tickets, would also be cool. Put in a card or something that says you love her, too; college students need to hear that often!
 
I’m so glad you started this. My youngest sister also just went off to college and I was thinking the same thing! 👍
 
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RockAndHoops:
Send food! College students love food! Send good healthy stuff, though, as well as some candy. My mom sent me food each month when I was in England last year (okay, dad got really really cheap shipping through his company) and it was a Godsend! Granted, my already above-average appetite was in overdrive from the basketball team, but still, you can’t go wrong with food.

Gift certificates to get off campus and do something, like movie tickets, would also be cool. Put in a card or something that says you love her, too; college students need to hear that often!
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Like what kind of food? I thought about baking brownies but do they keep in a tupperware container for two days of mailing? My sister is a tiny girl anyway and food isn’t very exciting to her. But I would still love ideas as to what to send. 🙂

Thanks for the ideas! Keep them coming!!!
 
There are many good types of food to send! Brownies are great, but there is the possibility that they don’t stay. Send them and see what happens (or if you want to make absolutely sure before you do it, send them on to me for examination 😃 ). Cookies are great, too, because they will keep, though they tend to crumble.

A really good idea (if your child likes meat but doesn’t like cooking) is to send these new products that are vacuum-sealed or something and they require no cooking and they keep almost forever, even without refrigeration! Tuna and chicken were best in my opinion, but then again I eat almost anything! (Maybe this isn’t the best for your daughter, but for those of you who have athletes out there this is useful).

You say she’s small, so maybe solids are not the best. Send some instant cappuccino if she likes that, and some apple cider mix (great for winter time). Or send over her favorite cereal.

Basically anything you send will be good: she will have food AND her friends will see this and then she gets to be the one who got something in the mail!
 
GIft certificates are fun!

So are magnetes (you can even make some- buy sm. woodcuts at the craft store and apply magnet), stickers, push-pins (if she has a bulletin board), odd-color highlighters, bookmarks, and non-school related crafty things to do.
 
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Princess_Abby:
My littlest sister is finally off at college and I would like to send her regular care packages. For the life of me, I can’t remember what I used to really want when I was in school. (Besides money! :)) .
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call the student life office, there may be an on-campus organization that sells and delivers care packages as a fund-raiser. I got kids on my gift list gift certificates to their college bookstores.
they always want food, tailor make it to her preferences. I still remember homemade cookies my roommate’s mom sent us–chocolate chip oatmeal. mmmm
 
How about protein bars? ( Luna and Clif bars are my favorite) Stamps for snail mail. Sample sizes of toothpaste shampoo etc. Tea and coffee packets and sugar and creamer. Instant soups, Cup O Noodles.
~ Kathy ~
 
Any foods that can be easily carried in a backpack or cooked in a microwave (even if your sister doesn’t seem interested in food, give her a week on dorm food and she’ll be begging for “real” food), gift certificates for local restaurants and stores, rolls of quarters, extra supplies like pens, notecards, highlighters. Or fun things, like a little stuffed animal for her desk, or cool nail polish, etc. Just something to let her know that her big sis is thinking of her.
 
Just some random ideas…
a good movie
food, like they said! Her favorite candy or snack. Homemade is great! Tupperware or storage containers come in handy!
a poster or photos or other decorations for her room
shower gel or something from bath and body works or whatever
music CD
batteries if there is something she might need them for
fuzzy slippers
sticky notes
small dry erase board and markers
cool pens or any nifty school supplies
new toothbrush
refillable waterbottle
calendar or dayplanner
lipgloss
earplugs and a sleep mask
stickers
film or disposable camera
comfy socks
silly little toys
card games or board game
 
A magazine or two. Those are sooo expensive, but nice when you want to read something not school related. If she wears makeup, how about a fresh mascara or such? A newspaper from home town. Your church bulletin to update her on what’s been happening. Fun catalogues.

My son is off to college, and I know he will appreciate food. So for me it is easy.

cheddar
 
My son just left for his third year at college.I send him food and some of the items I’m about to list.
Try some of these adjust them for your budget.
Freshly baked food like brownies and cookies usually does fine if shipped in a sturdy container.
Healthy snacks-nuts, energy bars, dried fruit.
Little encouraging cards.Seasonal Cards with money or small gift.Halloween, Easter
I sent my son some halloween candy from the Great pumpkin the first year and then the Easter Bunny sent him a package at Easter. Those were a big hit and there was plenty to share.
Seasonal items such as tissues , throat drops and cold medicine for cold season.
When the weather gets nippy some chap stick or those stretchy warm gloves they sell for like $3.
Popcorn , candy and a DVD.
After a month the toiletries start to run out so some of the students favorites are a nice surprise.
Stamps, envelopes or thank you cards around birthday time.

The schools sometimes have a service that has gift packages.
I had the dining company bake a birthday cake and send over a all the essentials, plates etc.

Be Creative and personal and you’ll do fine.
 
I sent my grandaughter off with:
a plastic box full of tools, (claw hammer, adjustable wrench, pliers, 4 different headed screwdrivers)
twine,
thumbtacks,
a measureing tape,
picture hangers,
pens & pencils,
post-its,
rope,
clothespins,
glue,
tape (both scotch and duct),
pocket calculator
“A Guide to Simple Home Repair”
and various odds and ends from Ace Hardware & Office Depot
She said it was the best send off and most useful gift she received.
All of it, including the plastic carry all box cost me only $84.00
 
Thanks so much for all the ideas, guys. I’m going to put it together tomorrow and send it out on Monday.

She got into a big fight with my parents the night before she moved in, and it continued during the actual move in. (Not any shouting–just definitely did not include the warm fuzzy goodbye I think she expected.) I know that emotions run high during big life transitions and I just want her to feel loved and know that she’s missed. I hope a care package will help.

Thanks again 🙂
 
P’cess Abby:

Thanks for posting this…my niece left for college this weekend and she’s been on my mind for the past few days…a care package is a GREAT idea!!
 
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