(Updated 2019)
Who doesn’t enjoy receiving something special out of the blue? When your in college, receiving a care package in the mail makes for a fantastic day, week, even month.
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Whether you have kids in college, know college kids through your friends, church, etc.., consider sending them a care package. The great thing about care packages is that they can be filled with inexpensive items that college students will love. Here are 35 things to consider adding to your package.
School Supplies
Ball Point Pens
Paper Clips
Post It Notes
Dry Erase Board with Pen. Have a look at this Whiteboard Set – Dry Erase Board 15 x 12 ” + 1 Magnetic Dry Eraser, 2 Dry-erase Black Marker Pens and 2 Magnets.
Chap Stick
First Aid Kit. The Johnson & Johnson Red Cross All Purpose First Aid Kit
Hotel Size Bottles of Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion
Mini Kleenex Packets
Sewing Kit- The Mini Travel Sewing Kit, contains a variety of colors of thread, the sewing needles and tools to get those buttons sewn back on and keep clothes in good condition.
Packet of Hand Wipes
Roll of Toilet Paper
Shout Wipes
Food and Food Storage
Beef Jerky such as Jack Link’s Premium 110 Calorie Beef Jerky Variety Pack.
Betty Crocker Warm Delights Microwaveable Cookie and Cake Mixes
Chewing Gum
Hot Chocolate Packets
Individual Drink Mix Packets
Individual Microwave Popcorn Packets
Instant Oatmeal Packets
Microwaveable Mac and Cheese Bowls
Microwaveable Soup Bowl-The Sistema Microwave Cookware Soup Mug goes from heating to getting down to eating in no time.
Ramen Noodles (The perennial college standby)
Soup Pouches
Tupperware Containers
Fun
Card or Board Games. The Hasbro Game – Jenga
Play-Dough
Silly Putty (via Reader’s Digest)
Slinky (via Reader’s Digest)
Travel Size Board Game
Misc.
Book Light. Check out the Energizer Clip on Book Light for Reading.
Gift Cards
Seasonal Decorations
Stamps
Quarters
Know friends and family who love to tailgate. Take a peek at 45 Things to Put in Tailgating Gift Baskets.
My GD is a Jr she also likes. tuna in foil pks, instant mashed potatoe pks, side dishes like rice or noodles, instant grits, pudding and fruit cups. Thanks
These are fantastic suggestions. Thanks so much for adding to the list!
Great list. The only addition I could come up with off the top of my head is Blue-Tack (blue sticky tack, sticky putty) to help hang up the seasonal decorations and posters, etc. since you don’t want to use push pins in a dorm or other rental.
Yes, Blue-tack is a great idea. Love these additions to the list. Thanks so much.
My daughter is a sophomore. This is a great list. Some of those individual containers of fruit and command hooks would be good additions.
Thanks for the list!
I love all these great additions to the list. Thanks so much.
Most of these are great stocking stuffer ideas, too!
Great point. Excellent stocking stuffers.
This is a great list. I have a couple of students in college right now, and I’d think they’d really appreciate a care package with some of these items! Thank you for linking up with Creative Style Linkup! Have a blessed weekend!
Your co-host, April
Oh, I love the chapstick and all the easy fix meals. I remember my nephew telling me he would eat ramen and instant oatmeal straight out of the package in college, without even adding water (yuck!). I guess they survive somehow!! Thanks for stopping by Let’s Get Real this week. Be sure to come next week!!
Yes, I have seen raw ramen noodle eaters, as well, among college students.
Great list of suggestions. Our 3rd son began college this fall, and I’ve sent him one package so far. He lives with his grandparents (great, huh?), and commutes to campus, but spends all day long there. I sent him a box of dry snacks he can stash in his truck or backpack to keep him energized between meals without having to use the expensive vending machines.
I had never thought about a first aid kit (and feeling sheepish now), but I’m tucking that into his next package! I’ve also considered some gas cards to help with his travel expenses back and forth to campus.
Thanks for sharing at Wake Up Wednesday!
Great list and additions, and I’m smiling because I wasn’t the only one to think of quarters. I gave a roll to my great nephew to take with him for laundry only to learn that they have cards to swipe through the machines. We used those for food on campus back in the day. I’ll have to ask him if they have one card for everything on campus.
Definitely never know when you are going to need quarters.
Definitely gift cards, especially for pizza or gas if they have a car. Or movie theaters.Magazines. Batteries.
You could also make a CD compilation .Seasonal items like winter gloves are good so they don’t have to own and store them in a small dorm room the rest of the year. Cofort food like homemade cookies. Laundry soap pods so they don’t have to haul a huge bottle of detergent across campus if they don’t have a car. Umbrella. Manicure/pedicure kit.
I remember when I was in college and I felt rich if I could come up with $7!
Such fantastic suggestions. Really appreciate you sharing.
As a mother of a college boy (year #2), may I add microwaveable cans of chicken soup (for when they’re sick), beef jerky, canned nuts, favorite granola bars, water mix-ins (powder), flavored popcorn. Photos! (Family, pets…They get homesick) Good cologne. (you’d be surprised what they buy – yuck). Stamped postcards for relatives.
Love, love, love your additions to the list! Thank you for taking the time to add these great suggestions.
I would add OTC medicine in the “feeling sick” idea….maybe even travel size if they decide to venture out. (Pharmacy Gift Card
Great suggestion.
And the “real” cold medicines you get from the pharmacist. My nephew got soooo sick his Freshman year, and we found he was taking Dollar Store cold medicine. I’m sending mine with vitamin C for the year per our doctors request. I now add seasonal decor. My nephew even put up the giant Santa I sent him (that I got for a dollar).
Seasonal decor is a wonderful idea. Thanks so much for sharing.