Holiday Gift ideas for rural old people?

[Anonymous]

So my mother (in her early 60s), lost her second husband last year. She is planning to spend Christmas and New Year’s celebrating with her late husband elderly parents in their rural Home in Oregon. I don’t have any idea what to send them all. I would like it to be some thing that they can all enjoy together (some thing in the hundred dollar range because I’m not a wealthy lady).

Not sure that they have the visual acuity for a jigsaw puzzle, and probably shouldn’t send a lot of sweets since they are all getting up there and have to be careful about what they eat. I don’t know these people well because they’ve only been in my family for a few years before my stepdad passed away, but they’ve always been good to my mom and I wanted to do something to brighten this Christmas without him.

[Anonymous]

Nice citrus from Florida?

[Anonymous]

Older people often have enough “stuff” like gadgets or home decor items. I would try to find out what kind of food they enjoy, and have it sent to their home. Maybe nice coffee or tea that they don’t normally treat themselves to? Good steaks or lobster tails? Nearly anything can be shipped these days and I prefer to give gifts that people can consume.

[Anonymous]

I sent Spoonful of Comfort to someone recently and it got rave reviews. It's soup, bread and cookies, so a nice meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Older people often have enough “stuff” like gadgets or home decor items. I would try to find out what kind of food they enjoy, and have it sent to their home. Maybe nice coffee or tea that they don’t normally treat themselves to? Good steaks or lobster tails? Nearly anything can be shipped these days and I prefer to give gifts that people can consume.

Yes, this is exactly the problem: they are all set on “stuff!” I was thinking food, but wasn’t sure which companies are good at delivering stuff out in the country.

[Anonymous]

A potted amyrillis-- I get them from White Flower Farm. You just water them and they bloom in late December and early January. You can also get shipments of really good oranges and grapefruit-- that's what I get my parents in Vermont. My dad loves the tinned fish that Patagonia sells. It's hard to find speciality groceries where he lives.

Most of these companies ship by FedEx and UPS, so as long as it isn't too terribly delicate it'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

I think the Harry & David gifts are nice and the food items are really good - you can send pears, cheeses, and chocolates which they could enjoy together during their visit.

[Anonymous]

OP when my grandparents were alive (very rural great plains), I would send them a gift box from Wolferman's and my Gram loved it, every time, and she always said she could freeze what they didn't want to eat right away so she could pull out the rolls for breakfasts or when she had a guest over for afternoon tea or coffee. Wolferman's FedExed it to their assisted living center and it always got there no problems. If they can get it to a very sparsely populated corner of a square state, in the middle of winter, they can get it to anyone.

[Anonymous]

Omaha steaks are a hit with my rural family. They have full meals too- like pasta and french fries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP when my grandparents were alive (very rural great plains), I would send them a gift box from Wolferman's and my Gram loved it, every time, and she always said she could freeze what they didn't want to eat right away so she could pull out the rolls for breakfasts or when she had a guest over for afternoon tea or coffee. Wolferman's FedExed it to their assisted living center and it always got there no problems. If they can get it to a very sparsely populated corner of a square state, in the middle of winter, they can get it to anyone.

Thank you! This is exactly the kind of tip I needed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omaha steaks are a hit with my rural family. They have full meals too- like pasta and french fries.

This too!

[Anonymous]

I've send many gifts from Goldbelly. So many choices from all over the US. Always a hit.

https://www.goldbelly.com

[Anonymous]

If you send food items, I wouldn't worry so much about the the right food. Don't ask them. That just spoils the surprise/joy of receiving it. Whatever it is, they will like having something to offer guests, when they have guests in their home. They may regift and enjoy that they have something nice already available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Older people often have enough “stuff” like gadgets or home decor items. I would try to find out what kind of food they enjoy, and have it sent to their home. Maybe nice coffee or tea that they don’t normally treat themselves to? Good steaks or lobster tails? Nearly anything can be shipped these days and I prefer to give gifts that people can consume.

Yes, this is exactly the problem: they are all set on “stuff!” I was thinking food, but wasn’t sure which companies are good at delivering stuff out in the country.

How out in the country are we talking? Unless it's a fly-in community in Alaska, I would assume anywhere that does holiday delivers would be fine. I might avoid fresh fruit and meat, maybe, given how delayed all postal services have been around the holidays the last couple of years, but chocolates/tea/coffee might be good. Also maybe look into florists local to the area and send them wreaths/greenery for decorating if that's something your relatives would like -- my family would love that but I get not everyone likes to go overboard with holiday cheer.

[Anonymous]

I would send a nice centerpiece of greenery. Not a wreath unless you're sure someone is able-bodied enough to put it up.

https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/57075-product.html