College care packages are a great way to show your student that you are thinking about them.  Whether you are looking for a click and ship idea or wanting to tap into your creative “do-it-yourself side”- we have you covered.

There are so many special reasons to send care packages. This year more than ever a thoughtful surprise can provide a wonderful and much needed pick me up!

Some tips to keep in mind:

• If your student is living on campus make sure you check the correct address to send your care package to. Sometimes the address for letters differs from the package address.  This is very college specific so make sure to inquire first.
• In terms of shipping items, costs will vary depending on weight, size, location and speed. Check out USPS, UPS, FedEx and compare options. The actual USPS flat rate boxes are free and offer a good value on shipping.  However, you can often get even better shipping prices for USPS through Pirate Ship, so make sure to see if that makes sense for you.
• Don’t forget about your student that is studying from home. Chances are they would love a care package too.  It’s been a challenging semester.
• Make sure to check out our “mid semester refresh” section. Your child most likely will need a fresh supply of masks and hand sanitizers. Don’t forget to send a care package if your child is stuck in quarantine. See section below on quarantine care package ideas.
• One item to add to any care package is an Ikea bag to help your child pack up at the end of the semester. Some colleges are requiring students to bring everything home at the end of the semester. With the uncertainty of second semester plans, many items that are usually left at school between semesters may be better off coming home or at least packed if they need to be shipped later.
• If you are not an Amazon Prime member yet sign up for a 30 day free trial.  Benefits include free two day shipping which will come in handy during your child’s college years.  Consider getting an Amazon Prime college membership which offers six months free and a fifty percent discount on the annual fee. (Sign up here: Amazon Prime or Amazon Prime College.
• Have fun! This will put a smile on your child’s face AND yours!  During these uncertain times we could all use a fun surprise.

Some easy click and ship options:

If you are looking for a great option for a college care package that does not involve being crafty these items are for you:

Snacks! College kids love to snack (who doesn’t?)

If you are looking for an easy click and ship option look no further than Crave Box one of the many pre made college care packages you can find on Amazon.  This big box contains an abundance of all time favorite snacks with plenty of extra to share with roommates and friends! Check out Bunny James if you are looking for healthier options including organic, vegan, gluten free, allergen free, keto, paleo, dairy free and more. Snack boxes come in themes as well, like this one for halloween.

For other pre made snack options Dylan’s Candy Bar has some delicious choices as well as Gourmet Gift Boxes. If none of these seem like the right fit you can make your own curated snack gift box!

 

 

Baked Goods:

Whether you send treats from home or from a bakery, your college student will be thrilled!  If you bake them yourself, make sure to package them well for shipping.  For cupcakes, cookies or brownies try this hinged lid container. Pringles containers are a good option for packing cookies.  If baking is not your thing try Cookies By Design. They offer cookie bouquets, cookie baskets, and cookie trays that we think are adorable. Baked by Melissa has bite sized cupcakes that are sure to be a hit on any campus.

Regional Food:

Goldbelly is the place to order from if you are looking for a splurge.  You can order items like Lou Malneti’s deep dish pizza from Chicago, a bagel brunch from NYC and macarons from Paris’s famous Laduree.

 

 

 

 

 

Outdoor Games:

Because of Covid-19 many students are spending more time outdoors than ever before. Try this inflateable lounger which does not require an air pump and folds up easily for storage.  The lounger can travel to the beach, the quad, camping or wherever else your college student ventures. A collapsable portable field chair will help your student to relax, study or socialize outdoors. Fanatics carries them with your favorite sports team’s logo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kan Jam, Spike Ball and Corn Hole are all ideal games for outdoor socially distanced fun!  Sidewalk Chalk is a creative idea for tapping into your artistic side! Don’t forget a frisbee, nerf football and beach balls. Fun fact- you can send items such as a frisbee or ball without packaging.  Just address and add postage! (See list below for more ideas of items to send this way).

Indoor Fun:

Cards Against Humanity and Never Have I Ever are two games that are sure to break the ice.  For some interesting indoor activities try a make your own hot sauce kit, a mason jar indoor edible flower garden, or a create your own reel viewer kit.  This mini basketball hoop is a cool addition to any dorm room.

 

 

 

Stress Reduction:

Who doesn’t need stress reduction these days? Try some therapy dough or send an aroma therapy diffuser set. Homesick candles can provide the familiar smells of your home city, state or country.  They even offer a “grandma’s kitchen” candle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help your student stay hydrated. Hydro Flask water bottles have become a favorite item on many college campuses! Not only do they keep your cold drinks cold and your hot drinks hot, they are available with different lids (including one for coffee), and come in a wide variety of colors.  These reusable bottles are not only an environmentally friendly option, but they are known to resist leaks and are BPA free.

Microwave Items:

College students rely on microwaves for everything from popcorn to meals.  Help up their microwave game with these items:

Microwave Pasta Pot:

Just add water- it even has a built in colander

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collapsable Popcorn Popper:

Not only do you not need oil, but the bowl collapses for easy storage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microwave Oatmeal:

Perfect for mornings on the go!

Microwave Pancakes:

Two amazing flavors-  buttermilk and chocolate chip.

Mug treats:

Chocolate chip, brownies, and muffins to name a few.

Mac and Cheese:

Annie’s mac and cheese

Things to wear:

Don’t forget to vote! Spread the word with these socks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Show some school spirit!

College logos are printed on anything you can imagine.  Fanatics carries most college and university merchandise, including personalization options like the sweatshirt pictured below.

Blue Light Blocking Glasses:

With most classes and meetings being held online, eye strain from computers has become a growing problem.  These blue light anti-reflective glasses help relieve eye strain and headaches.  This pair is lightweight and comes with both non magnification magnification options. Shop here.

Get Cozy:

Fall is here and for many students that means bundling up.  Here are some items that will keep them warm:

Texting gloves

Moshi texting gloves are warm and have texting capability in all ten fingers.

Uniqlo:

Uniqlo is the perfect place to shop for fashionable well priced sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves and their famous ultra light weight down vests and jackets.   The vests and jackets make great layering pieces as the weather gets colder. Don’t forget their cashmere products (you may want some for yourself too)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blanket:

This cozy sherpa fleece blanket comes in a variety of sizes and colors:

The mid semester refresh:

Lost socks, borrowed clothes, used toiletries and cleaning supplies- it’s time for a refresh!  It is very possible that your college student needs a new supply of many of the items that you sent them with back in August.  Gather what you think they might need and believe me it will be a welcomed surprise.  Here are some suggestions:

Underwear: For men send a refresh of Hanes, Calvin Kleins, or Tommy Johns. For women send a refresh from Victoria’s Secret or American Eagle.

Socks: Nike “no see” socks

Toiletries: Soap, shampoo, deodorant, razor blades, shaving cream, toothbrush, toothpaste

Cleaning supplies: Laundry detregent, Windex, Fantastik, Clorox wipes

These items can be found on Amazon or Walmart.

Do not forget a refresh on supplies like masks and hand sanitizers!

For reliable (and in stock) N95s, KN95s and disposable 3 ply surgical masks shop here.

 

Cloth masks that you college student will love:

For the sports fan or to show your school spirit shop Fanatics

For the athlete shop Adidas, Reebok, and Athleta

For fashionable masks shop JCrew, Vista Print, Old Navy, Uniqlo and Etsy.

Don’t forget some themed masks like these:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shop Etsy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shop Halloween masks at Etsy (this one glows in the dark).

For more Covid-19 items: Read the essential Covid-19 college packing list 

Send gift cards:

This is one idea that is universally loved!  This one stop gift card site allows you to email or send plastic gift cards to your college student from their favorite stores and restaurants. You can even send a Visa gift card and personalize it with over 15,000 designs or a personal photo. There is no fee involved when purchasing gift cards and there is a rewards program that allows you to earn points towards future gift card purchases.  Shop here.

 

 

Make your own care package:

Here are some fun ideas for making your own college care package:

Do you know about box flaps?

Box flaps help turn an ordinary box into something festive.  You can either use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, or purchase pre made stickers to place on the inside flaps.  The pre made stickers are usually sized to fit a USPS Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box but can be trimmed to fit other sizes.  Etsy has some really cute options that you can shop here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What should I put in the care package?

The possibilities are endless! Choosing a theme can be a fun way to collect items for your box.

Here are some themes with suggestions:

Holiday and Seasonal Themes:

With the fall upon us, halloween is a good choice for a theme!

Did you know you can turn a Tide pods container into a self contained package that you can ship without a box?  Soak the container to get the labels off and then take a sharpie, paint pen or felt and decorate one side and address the other side.

Maria Jongbloed, shared these photos of her recent project below, “People who know me well know that this is as crafty as I’m going to get. It was fun to do and I hope my daughter & her friends (& the postal workers) get a laugh out of these coming in the mail.” We think they look great!

Make sure to clean the inside well with soap and water overnight.  If that does not get the laundry smell out some people swear by using coffee grinds to soak up the lingering odor over night.  Make sure the candy is wrapped and seal the lid with clear packing tape.  Address the back side, take to the post office and ship as is.  The green Gain pods containers make perfect Frankensteins while the white Tide pods containers make cute ghosts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your college student’s favorite candy is an obvious choice for any halloween care package.  Add in halloween string lights, cobwebs, and halloween decor for their dorm room or apartment.  Costumes,  glow sticks, and pumpkins with a jack o’ lantern carving kit make great additions.

Send a thanksgiving dinner:

If your student is stuck on campus for Thanksgiving due to Covid-19 related restrictions help them celebrate at school.  Either send some homemade treats or order a pre made feast that they can simply heat up. If your child has an off campus apartment you can send a homemade recipe book along with the ingredients from Instacart or PeaPod.

Favorite TV Shows:

Does your student have a favorite tv show they love to binge?  Maybe Friends, The Office, Schitt’s Creek? If so, they will love a care package with the show’s theme.  Look what this creative mom made for her daughter who is a huge fan of the show Friends:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The care package is filled with Friends themed items and inside jokes about episodes.  She cleverly made cards that say “The one where…” which any Friends fan knows is how the episodes are titled.

Shop items for Friends here and here.

Shop items for Schitt’s Creek here and here.

Shop items for The Office here and here.

Hobby Themes:

Is your student crafty, athletic, or musical? Make a care package using a hobby theme!

An example for the artist: Adult coloring book, a set of colored pencils, magnetic gel pen set, paint by numbers set, or a DIY tie dye kit.

School Colors Theme:

This is a fun care package theme.  Gather items such as candy and clothes in your students school colors and order some college merchandise from Fanatics.

Spa Theme:

This care package is sure to be a favorite.  You can also include items mentioned above under stress reduction.  Additionally include face masks, gel eye mask, nail polish.

Quarantine care package:

Many college students have spent time in quarantine this semester.  The need to move quickly means that many students leave their rooms without remembering some important items.  Also many have complained about the food either not coming on time or not being edible.  We wrote about quarantine “to go bags” which is worth checking out.  However, if your child is already in quarantine you may want to ask what they need and send asap.

Some items that you should consider: snacks, chargers, masks, hand sanitzer, sheets, pillows, towels, a blanket, extra sets of clothes, underwear and socks (see “mid semester refresh” section above for suggestions) and toiletries. Add some fun items from this article, like a coloring book and set of colored pencils to help pass time.  Of course this all depends on how long your child will remain in quarantine and how easily a package can reach them. Another good idea is to send food from Instacart or Peapod.

If you live nearby you may be able to drop the package off somewhere that the college allows in order to get it to your child quickly.

These items can be mailed without a box– really!

As we mentioned above laundry pod containers make an extra fun care package because they can be shipped without a box and will definitely put a smile on your student’s face.  Here are some other items that are fun to ship as is:

Piñatas: Just fill the piñata and tape well! You can buy pinatas in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  They even made a coronavirus pinata!

Footballs, volleyballs, basketsballs, frisbees and hoola hoops can be addressed and shipped.  Just take it to the post office to make sure you have the proper postage.  See above section (outdoor toys) for some good choices.

Send cash!

This is always appreciated! As discussed above gift cards are always a treat and so is cash. Here is a fun way to send cash.  All you need are latex balloons and cash.  Roll up the cash, insert into the balloon and then simply blow it up and tie. A hand held pump may come in handy.

The dollar amount can range- for example you could put 15 dollar bills into 15 separate balloons. Or you can put different amounts in different balloons including 5, 10, 20 dollar denominations. The amount of money and number of balloons is up to you.  Put the balloons in a box and don’t forget to include a safety pin and a note letting them know to pop the balloons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

College care packages can be sent for many reasons or simply to just to say hi!  Don’t forget to send care packages for birthdays, milestones, exams, break ups, encouragement, congratulations, or holidays-especially during these challenging times.

Let us know if you have sent any care packages yet and share your ideas below!