Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to send things that can be easily frozen like baked goods or, say, quiche. That way the grieving family can keep them til they're needed and wanted. After my father died we got so much food and it was really appreciated, but none of us felt like eating that first week or so. That was many years ago - nowadays, too, a gift card of some kind for takeout could be helpful. The last thing I want to do when I'm upset is cook and clean.

I would hate to receive food, and people will probably send stuff that I don't like. Also, my fridge and freezer are small, because our house is small and there's no way I could freeze a ton of random food.

My point is: please know your audience! If you know they're the type who will appreciate food gifts, and have the space to freeze them, then sure, go right ahead.

This. I think you mean well, OP, but unless the recipients are blessed with lots of refrigerators and freezers, food may not be the way to go.

Anonymous wrote:Spoonful of Comfort. Have used them many times and it's always appreciated.

https://www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/

I would be very grateful for this kind of gift.

Anonymous wrote:What about Edible Arrangements?

Personally I wouldn't send those bc they tend to have a lot of preservatives in them and that's not how my family (immediate and extended) or friends eat.

In the Jewish tradition it is food, always food. We received so many pasta dishes and desserts, we put a ton in the freezer. We were grateful for the tray of deli-meat sandwiches and the compete meal (meat, veggies, starch and dessert) from Honeybaked Ham (turns out they have other meats than ham!).

We now always send a complete meal, either from Honeybaked Ham or Omaha Steaks. Comes ready to eat or freeze, whatever works best for the grieving family

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Edible Arrangements?

Please don’t do this. It always spoils and goes to waste.

I just received one. It was delicious and gone in 24 hours!

Spoonful of Comfort. Have used them many times and it's always appreciated.

https://www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/

Do they have a meal train?

I would love food and not flowers. If local, I ask when a good night would be and drop off dinner. I just dropped off soup and bread and scones, in fact, and it was a huge hit. If far away, door dash gift card is good idea. I like walnut povitica from Strawberry Hill (cake loaf).

Anonymous wrote:For local, I make a baked goods. Usually a cake. Then they have it to offer to guests when they stop through, without the need for a full meal.

Loaf cakes and breads are so nice. Easy to share and comforting.

Anonymous wrote:What about Edible Arrangements?

Please don’t do this. It always spoils and goes to waste.

We received a fruit basket with salty snacks and nuts. To be honest the chocolate was really helpful. We kept forgetting to eat and that stuff was easy to grab. Heating up food was beyond our capabilities and because it was not sliced fruit it could sit around for a bit. Also it was easy for us to give to other people that were visiting or helping in the very early days.

Anonymous wrote:A ham.

I don't think that would be appropriate given the deli's OP mentioned....

If the grieving family is Jewish, it is not customary to send flowers. We usually prefer food (kosher), which will be served to visitors who come to the pay respects (sitting shiva). The family can receive visitors and not have to prepare food.

I usually send Zingerman’s.

What about Edible Arrangements?