Even in the age of electronic communication, college students love to receive “real” mail.  Perhaps the mail that college students love to receive the most are those care packages from home.  Nothing beats something put together lovingly from home, and receiving presents – even small tokens – really brighten a student’s day!

When to send a package

Care packages are appropriate at any time of the semester.  In fact, a package that is unexpected is often a double bonus.  However, care packages may be especially appreciated at particular times.

Sometime during those first couple of weeks for new students is a time when a package may be especially meaningful.  This might also be a good time to include a small item or two that the student might have forgotten to pack in the first place.  Other times when students especially appreciate a package can be those particularly stressful times of midterm and final exams, or send a package to celebrate an event, an award, a milestone or even just as an unexpected surprise.  Something that might make your student smile, and think about home, will be meaningful.  And if it contains food, it will be appreciated all the more!

Standards to include

There are services available that will send care packages for you.  Sometimes the packages may be prepared by student groups as a fund raiser.  Shop on Campus offers a variety of food and snack selections for online purchase which Missouri S&T students may pick up in the Havener Center. 

As convenient as these services may be, there is still nothing like a personal care package straight from home.  You will be able to include those special things that you know will be meaningful to your student.  Putting together just the right care packages should be a fun way to think about your student and their interests and personality.  Keep a list or start a collection early and add things whenever you think of them.  Be sure to send packages early and often.

Here are some standard items that are usually appreciated in any care package:

• Food – Your student will appreciate anything, but will especially appreciate home baked goods, snack items or personal favorites such as a favorite type of candy bar or favorite tea or cocoa mix.
• Personal items such as toothpaste, deodorant, lotions etc.  (Yes, your student could buy these things, but it is convenient not to have to go out to get them – or to spend the money for them.)
• School or study items – fun paperclips, staples, pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.
• Things to decorate the dorm room – especially holiday decorations.
• Things to share with friends – this is especially appreciated if you send food.
• Personal items from home – local newspapers, magazines, newsletters, photos.
• The list is only limited by your imagination.  Once you get started thinking creatively, you’ll be surprised about the number of things you can think of.

Stepping it up a notch

In addition to the standards – food, personal items, school supplies, room decorations, and news from home such as clippings from the local newspaper, here are a few additional thoughts that can raise the level of your care packaging.

• Home baked goodies are always appreciated, and packing them carefully helps. Be sure to cool products before you wrap them.  If you’re sending brownies or bar cookies, try to take them out of the pan in large pieces and wrap and pack them that way.  They can be cut later and won’t crumble as much.  Soft cookies can be stacked in something like a Pringles can or orange juice can.  Or try baking a favorite cookie recipe as a bar cookie that will travel more easily. Send any frosting in a separate container. It can be spread once it arrives.
• Consider sending smaller packages more often. Little surprises that come unexpectedly are especially fun.
• Consider some healthier snacks  – granola, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, cheese snacks, granola bars, mini loaves of homemade bread.
• Think about beverage mixes – specialty tea bags, cocoa mix, lemonade mix.
• Send pictures of family or events. Yes, these may be available on Facebook or the internet, but your student might like to put them up on a bulletin board or even frame them.
• If your student has a kitchen accessible, consider sending dry cookie ingredients and a store gift card for the wet ingredients. Send dry soup or other mixes.  Or send some favorite recipes, a shopping list, and a store gift card.
• Include a gift card for a local grocery store, restaurant, or coffee shop.  Do some investigating to find out what is available on or close to campus. Local favorites can be found here.
• Consider something huggable and fun – a small stuffed animal, a cozy pillow or warm blanket.
• Mail your package early in the week so that it won’t sit in the mailroom over the weekend.
• Consider packing items in reusable containers that might come in handy in your student’s room.
• Include enough to be shared with roommates and friends.
• Be sure to check out flat rate shipping costs.

And don’t forget . . .

• Be careful with perishables.  If you are sending anything perishable, it is best to let the student know that it is coming.  Your student may not be in the habit of checking for packages every day.
• Check to be sure that you have the correct address and that it is written clearly.  See a list of Missouri S&T Residence Hall addresses.
• Consider sending smaller packages often.  Finding frequent treasures in your mailbox is fun.

Sending a care package is a small way of letting your student know that you are thinking about them.  They will appreciate the effort that you’ve made.  Even though you may talk to your student regularly, a surprise package in the college mailbox says “We’re thinking of you!” in a special way.

Source

Author of Article: Vicki Nelson.  Article adapted from collegeparentcentral.com.  Please Note: Missouri S&T does not endorse or have a relationship with SOURCE and articles are provided for information purposes only.  Missouri S&T and SOURCE do not assume responsibility for error or omission in materials.  

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