care package for college kid

[Anonymous]

Are care packages still something college kids like? We have two nephews and one niece going away to college and I remember loving getting care packages from my aunt when I was in college 20 years ago. I have little ones so am out of the college loop. If they are still a thing, any ideas for what to put in them? In the old days, my aunt put homemade cookies in a shoebox...

[Anonymous]

It is still a thing. And college kids still like the same snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anything they need/forgot - my son asked for a tape measure once, for example, and then things you think they'd want. Lots of different types of snacks, stuff they won't want to buy like toilet paper/tampons, travel packs of tissues, etc. Card from home saying how proud you are and funny anecdotes from home.

[Anonymous]

I do not encourage anyone to eat junk food / sweets so I would not give a gift of snack food unless healthy.

I would consider buying a nice sweatsuit and athletic shoes (or a generous gift certificate for high quality running / athletic shoes) as a way to encouraging them to utilize the athletic facilities while at school. This could be considered a lifetime gift.

Since you have three relatives starting college, maybe just nice high quality sweatsuits (as it may be a bit too costly to also buy high quality athletic shoes for each person in addition to the workout clothes).

On the other hand, gift cards to Target are always welcome.

[Anonymous]

Might be good to wait until college has been in session for a few weeks. The mailroom can get crazy busy at the start of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not encourage anyone to eat junk food / sweets so I would not give a gift of snack food unless healthy.

I would consider buying a nice sweatsuit and athletic shoes (or a generous gift certificate for high quality running / athletic shoes) as a way to encouraging them to utilize the athletic facilities while at school. This could be considered a lifetime gift.

Since you have three relatives starting college, maybe just nice high quality sweatsuits (as it may be a bit too costly to also buy high quality athletic shoes for each person in addition to the workout clothes).

On the other hand, gift cards to Target are always welcome.

Is this for real?
But ok, how about an Athleta or Lululemon or whatever gift card?


I’d send something homemade or an amazon snack pack or whatever .

[Anonymous]

Thanks all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]I do not encourage anyone to eat junk food / sweets so I would not give a gift of snack food unless healthy.[/b]

I would consider buying a nice sweatsuit and athletic shoes (or a generous gift certificate for high quality running / athletic shoes) as a way to encouraging them to utilize the athletic facilities while at school. This could be considered a lifetime gift.

Since you have three relatives starting college, maybe just nice high quality sweatsuits (as it may be a bit too costly to also buy high quality athletic shoes for each person in addition to the workout clothes).

On the other hand, gift cards to Target are always welcome.

I bet you are the life of the party. Do you bake tofu cake for your kids' birthday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not encourage anyone to eat junk food / sweets so I would not give a gift of snack food unless healthy.

I would consider buying a nice sweatsuit and athletic shoes (or a generous gift certificate for high quality running / athletic shoes) as a way to encouraging them to utilize the athletic facilities while at school. This could be considered a lifetime gift.

Since you have three relatives starting college, maybe just nice high quality sweatsuits (as it may be a bit too costly to also buy high quality athletic shoes for each person in addition to the workout clothes).

On the other hand, gift cards to Target are always welcome.

You sound fun! Bet you’re loving it up with some lemon water right now! Cheers!

[Anonymous]

I sent friends kids some but do it from a store vs. mailing. First few times i mailed I spend more on shipping than the package was worth.

[Anonymous]

I'll be honest, my kid would be lukewarm about a box of cookies, but a Target gift card for snacks and cleaning supplies or a little something to cover dinner out when the dining hall just doesn't sound appealing was always welcome.

[Anonymous]

Stamps. College kids never have any and will need them at some point.

Uber / Uber Eats gift cards.

[Anonymous]

Snacks, especially things that aren't readily available in their area.
My brother sent a care package to son his freshman year. My brother lives in Texas, and we (our family and my kid's college) are more north--so my brother went to Buc-ees and got a bunch of random snacks from there. it was cool because it was different and not stuff they can just buy in the stores on/off campus.

[Anonymous]

I found that most care package items were unused at the end of the semester. Some items were used, sure, but, for the most part, sending care packages is to make you feel good.

Maybe a funny card and a gift card (though these are disappearing in the mail really often these days).

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that dorms are small, so no "stuff"; anything with caffeine is welcome especially if they have a coffee maker or tea pot in the room, even instant hot coco mix is great; good food is an icebreaker to get first years socializing; gift cards need to be for things that can be delivered for most colleges if the kids don't have cars on campus (pay attention to school location generally -- Uber isn't necessarily useful on rural campuses where the kids don't go anywhere, for example); and sentimental things, like a picture drawn by a young cousin, is cute.