<p>I send my DS care packages fairly frequently–like for OP, this is for me! But he enjoys getting them…I send snack-y stuff (fruit snacks are probably the most favorite)…cookies, nuts, cheese & cracker packs, that sort of thing…I usually tuck in an envelope w/a $10 (or if I’m feeling generous, a $20) in it…he has fun (or indulges me in thinking it’s fun) “finding the surprise”)…</p>
<p>The two “biggest hits” ever, tho, were:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>M&Ms w/his name printed on one side (got 'em in his school colors)…he & his friends got a huge kick out of that…you order them at a website called (I think) mymms…</p></li>
<li><p>A pinata (which of course I filled w/tootsie pops and candies…he & his friends had a blast w/that! I was amazed at how big a hit that was…I suspect they’re available in “T-giving themes”…a pilgrim or a turkey or a pumpkin…I sent the one I sent for Halloween, and had fun picking from among the various shapes available…got it at Target, for under $10…</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sending my DS care packages always brightens my day…and he seems to really enjoy getting them, altho I suspect he wouldn’t notice if I stopped sending them…they really are “for me!”</p>
<p>My S will not be flying from west coast for Thanksgiving. He’ll be coming home 2 weeks later, though, for winter break. I am sending him a package this week that I think he’ll like. He is a runner, as is my H. My H was in a run today, and he got the long-sleeved technical shirt give-away in my S’s size. So we’ll send the shirt and other items from the goodie bag and the food tent: a clif bar, 3 bags of heart-healthy chips, and a bottle of Kefir (cultured milk smoothie). </p>
<p>I am sure he’ll be thrilled with these fun things.</p>
<p>I’m sure there is a large group that doesn’t go home for Thanksgiving (especially the International students). So send D a turducken and have them cook it themselves and make their own delicious feast. I don’t think anybody will forget it. Google “turducken” and order soon. It takes two days to thaw and cooks like a regular turkey. Cajun Grocer has the best ones (not getting any commision).</p>
<p>TURDUCKEN! You guys are hilarious. I will take many of these great ideas and rework them to fit her needs. She lives above a library at RISD and they have small Apartments. Her apartment doesn’t have an oven in it. It does have a two-burner stove, refrigerator, and a microwave. So serious cooking is out. But I can send other stuff. I love your suggestions and I have one of my own. 6 moms got together once every couple of months to assemble care packages when our daughters move out of state for college. We ran it around the holidays. We have a little meeting, baked cookies, brought one item for every girl (under 1 dollar) and talked about what each daughter was doing. It was so fun. The feed back from the girls was wonderful.</p>
<p>artmommy, I am most impressed with your over 4 billion posts. Also, my brother went to RISD (our home was Chicago) and never came home for Thanksgiving. It was fun to be on the east coast for this holiday and he has always been rather non-traditional of course. One year our mom ordered a traditional turkey dinner from a local hotel restaurant and my brother and friends just picked it all up and then had a feast at their apartment.</p>