It’s a VERY kind gesture, but hospital food really is completely fine when you’re in a crisis. So the only purpose to what you’re sending is to tell them that you love them and are thinking about them. Send the cookies that they asked for. Maybe have DH ask if they want him to bring the cooler home? They might LOVE having a cooler, or it might be taking up precious floor space. Hard to know without asking. You are a very good friend.

Does she want this?

Get a gift card for food delivery.

This is very sweet. Maybe some kind of relatively healthy muffin, like morning glory muffins. I can only imagine in that situation I could barely get food down so I’m thinking of what I can manage when under great stress. Muffins, cut up fruit, Greek yogurt.

Agree with others that the food available at hospital cafeterias is often a lot better now so I think you don’t need to go overboard. It sounds like s sad situation and I’m sorry about your friend.

There are several local restaurants, not chains, on the Corner so just a Visa gift card or UberEats gift card would be best. Even the CAVA is kinda far away and the traffic in Cville isn’t great.

When my mother was in the ICU after a stroke I didn’t care about food and would just eat whatever was available. I didn’t care it if was healthy or not that was the last thing on my
mind. There are usually vending machines somewhere in the hospital too. People who overdid things were just more of a burden.

OP- I am in Charlottesville and directly across from the hospital is The Corner (bars, restaurants, CVS, shops, convenience stores, etc.)

https://charlottesville.guide/shopping/the-corner/

Anonymous wrote:Please do not send in "home cooked" or "home made" sandwiches or food in general. Everything should be store bought and pre-packaged. 1) You aren't as amazing of a cook as you think and 2) Storebought items/prepacked foods are more sanitary for all involved in these situations.

Although you might be an intense germaphobe many people are not. As someone who has sat in a hospital getting homemade cookies and homemade soups was lovely. Prepackaged stuff I can buy in the cafeteria. Homemade always tastes much better.

Hello all.

I appreciate all of the suggestions.

Just for the record, we will of course be doing what we can when this hospital stay is over -- although I appreciate the suggestions, these folks live in the Shenandoah Valley, and there's no Uber Eats out there and this person doesn't really need gift cards (the only gift card of any use out there would be one of those pre-paid Visas or something, and they have plenty of money -- it would make no sense for us to give some on a gift card). And we are already helping with paperwork a great deal (DH and I are both lawyers) and will continue to do so. We are taking snacks for the cooler we brought last time, because he texted how helpful the stuff we brought last time was (including the cooler).