<p>Hello: Did anyone use the care package program Collegiate Welcome Service Program? When you send care packages what are the most well received items? How often did you send one?
Thanks so much</p>
<p>I'm sure there have already been threads- but- I didn't send many care packages, most were around sending back things that she forgot at home on her visits. ( expensive boots & jackets are heavy to ship- I also would tuck a few extra things in too)
I used the local coffee shop that handles shipping- they helped with boxes and tape & kept her address on their computer so they could just print out the label :) </p>
<p>Her school bookstore did have a service though, that put things together- that were fun- I did that a few times, around holidays or finals.</p>
<p>I think around midterms and finals are good times- and if you send food, enough to share.</p>
<p>Never used the service -- in fact, haven't heard of it, so it may not be available at D's school? At any rate, I do send "care packages" (mostly homemade treats) several times throughout the year, especially during exams. D tells me it's big news when the pumpkin bread arrives -- she becomes enormously popular. Usually I send cookies &/or brownies, and sometimes the infamous bread. I've also sent cereal bars, microwave mac & cheese, ramen, etc.</p>
<p>I sent a care package about once a month. But I made up my own. Some of the stuff that the company provided gave me good ideas, but I preferred to make up packages that were somewhat more personal than this company made. Not to say that it wasn't a good program, but I had a great time picking out stuff and getting it together. It really perked me up, and my D LOVED getting them. BTW, it seems that college kids really love any mail that they get. My H found a computer program that turns photos into postcards, so he sent those every so often.</p>
<p>I make my own. The college does have a care package service, but a lot of it sounded like stuff he wouldn't eat. I usually make an assortment of cookies, but sometimes I make candy too. And I send hot chocolate packs, tea bags and microwave popcorn. He enjoys sharing the food and I enjoy sending it. I have a chocolate cookie recipe that I play around with the additives--different flavor extracts, dried fruits, nuts, chips etc. Gingersnaps and gingerbread cookies seem to stay fresh longest. I usually use the flat rate boxes from the post office. Sometimes I send milk and juice boxes too.</p>
<p>And while I'm at it, I send a box to his cousin too, because his parents live in another country.</p>
<p>Heres some ideas.
I used their service cause I have CRS (** C*an't **Remember **S*#@!) syndrome & would decide at the last minute I wanted to send something. ( spendy though)
also - hard to mail ice cream :)</p>
<p>Not to put a damper on the care pkg. idea but you might want to check into where the pkg. is delivered to the school first. I sent one care pkg. at beginning of S's freshman year only to find those kinds of things were not delivered to his dorm to but to another dorm and the office hours for pick-up were limited and did not mesh well with his schedule. So in the end, it was more trouble for him than it was worth. He would rather me send him cards with money/gift cards or just put extra in his spending acct. that he could use however he wanted. His univ. is in a large city with plenty of shops stores all around though.</p>
<p>Some suggestions:
--Make the carepackages yourselves. This way, you can tailor them to what the kid likes.
---Don't make them too heavy. Chances are they'll have to pick it up and carry it from a building other than their dorm.
---Try to send light-weight items--pretzels, cookies, candy, a CD, maybe an iTunes gift card, a fun tshirt, a Target gift card (or whatever store is close to the college), etc. Skip the detergent, juice boxes, computer paper, etc. They can buy that stuff at school. I like to include a copy of the hometown newspaper.
----They love to get mail. In August, I go to Amazon.Com and order a 6 month subscription to Time Magazine to be sent to the dorm mailbox.<br>
--One of the favorite carepackages that my S received was a "Christmas package" his freshman year. We sent it a couple of days after Thanksgiving. It included a tiny fake xmas tree, a set of lights, a few ornaments, candy canes, a Christmas music CD, scarf, hat, and gloves.</p>
<p>When my D went to boarding school her grndmother (my mom) became the care package queen! She included culinary delights like: oreos, twizzlers, easy-mac, poptarts, p & j, etc she also through in hand sanitizer and magazines. The real treat though was her crochet work. She made scarves, hats, gloves, throws, all in the school colors. My D's dorm mates always were excited when the mailroom notified my D she had a package.
My D is about to leave for college and if I know my mom she already has her crochet hooks and knitting needles poised for action. Whole new school, all knew colors, YOU GO MOM.</p>
<p>We do not have control over items in care package at D's school. It is mostly junk and very expensive, she does not eat most of it. However, she still wants to receive them. Well, we are planning to send them as a part of cost of Ds college education. It is worth it since it makes her feel good during exam.</p>
<p>One of my kids likes these packages and one doesn't. The one who doesn't like them complained that the stuff was overpriced (JUST SEND ME MONEY!) and the package was delivered to an office that had limited pickup times (same as another poster noted). </p>
<p>The one that liked the packages is grateful for anything extra ...especially if food is involved. A lot of the kids in his freshman dorm got them. I suspect that it's more of a freshman thing than an upperclassman one, based on their reactions to the deliveries.</p>
<p>My D loves to get packages but wouldn't want the junk that comes from the services. So I make my own and send via U.S. Postal Service flat-rate boxes. They are not only cheaper than UPS, but they arrive faster too. I send mostly food--including perishables--but love that Christmas decoration idea.</p>
<p>The holiday touch is nice, but I you may want to be careful depending on the roomate situation. Both of my kids had roomates who didn't celebrate Christmas.
Brownies seem to be a universal favorite. My son, like others, would prefer money to most things- easy but not as fun for the giver, I'll admit. A Starbucks card, or just a bit of cash in a funny card is always very appreciated.</p>
<p>I am wondering if obesity is a major health problem in the US, should we be sending care packages consisting of candies, cookies and brownies ? Should we be telling our kids that in times of stress (midterm, finals) we want you to eat sweets? </p>
<p>Suggestions of healthy treats are appreciated.</p>
<p>Another vote for USPS Flat-Rate boxes...$8.95 for anywhere in the country and as much weight as you can cram into them. We periodically send home-made cookies, bars or breads; stuff the box with easter candy in the spring; usually send mail that comes to the house and articles that we cut-out and save. Like the Christmas box suggestion above, we made a Halloween box with stuff from the local dollar store: decorations, candy, a tape of creepy music, a doorbell with Halloween sound effects, a couple of wigs and some fake blood, fake spiders, etc. Son and roommate loved it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am wondering if obesity is a major health problem in the US, should we be sending care packages consisting of candies, cookies and brownies ? Should we be telling our kids that in times of stress (midterm, finals) we want you to eat sweets?</p>
<p>Suggestions of healthy treats are appreciated.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's not only obesity, these foods cause other types of health problems.</p>
<p>One item I include in a care package is smoked salmon that DD likes. I pick it up at World Market and add a couple of boxes of water crackers.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Should we be telling our kids that in times of stress (midterm, finals) we want you to eat sweets?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>All things in moderation, imo.</p>
<p>My grandmother used to send me cookies in those round cans that Pringles come in -- nary a broken cookie. I also remember when I was in college, my parents called a local bakery and had a big "Happy Birthday" cake delivered to me at my sorority house -- which I left out for everyone in the common area. That was really nice as not everyone knew it was my birthday, so I got a lot of H.Bs. as well as thanks for the cake.</p>
<p>I sent one to D, but she only ate about half, and didn't care for the other half. So, I started making my own. It did cost more, but there was no waste.</p>
<p>Agree with cronie -- plus, each of us knows our own kid. My D is a very healthy eater and gets LOTS of exercise. Me sending her cookies, brownies, etc. that she shares w/ all her friends has not/will not put her on the road to obesity. I mean, let's face it -- exams s --k!</p>