Holiday Care Package Ideas Needed for College Girls

**Rhonda** · 11-29-2005, 01:37 AM

I have been chosen to send several college girls holiday care packages from my Sunday school class. Can anyone suggest what I should include? Thanks for any ideas!

**SewCrafty** · 11-29-2005, 03:32 AM

Many of these things can be purchased at a dollar store

Food:

ramen soup
crackers
cheese whiz ( the stuff in a can)
sparkling grape juice
chips, pretzels (snacks)
chocolate
hot chocolate
tea or instant coffee
powdered creamer
cookies (homemade holiday ones would be nice)

Personal Care:

soap
deodorant
toothpaste & toothbrush
tampons or pads
shampoo
conditioner
laundry soap
dryer sheets
lotion
diaposable razors
mouthwash
multi vitamins
towel & washcloth set
brush & comb set
nail polish & polish remover
manicure set

Other:

copy paper (for the computer)
pens & pencils
3 subject notebooks
gift card to Wally's (or whatever dept. store is close by)
blank cd's or floppy disks
journal
flashlight
umbrella
music cd (need to know their individual likes)

Depending on where they are going to college:

hat & scarf set
mittens or gloves
insulated mug (good for hot or cold)

I'm brain dead tonight, that is all I can think of. LOL

**Michelle** · 11-29-2005, 07:25 AM

Great list Dee

I'd also like to suggest phone cards (for calling home) and quarters for laundry

Homemade goodies (brownies, cookies, etc) are always appreciated as well

**daddys3chicks** · 11-29-2005, 08:40 AM

We sponsor a college student in our Sunday School class. We just sent her a package. One of the older ladies in the class added towels. She said no matter how many towels they have they are always in the laundry! Our student LOVED them!

Other suggestions - holiday socks, disposable cameras, a cute little stuffed animal.

**Michele Annette** · 11-29-2005, 10:38 AM

Wow Dee, for a braindead person you did great!

I second the homemade treats (brownies, etc.), Journal, phone cards, bath products, etc.

**jlxian** · 11-29-2005, 01:02 PM

I think the lists above are wonderful.

How about rolls of quarters?

**Telephus44** · 11-30-2005, 07:47 PM

I just wanted to add one thing from my college experience - medicine! Aspirin (or other pain reliever), cold medicine, bandaids. etc. I lived on $10 a week when I was in college and it really felt hard when I was sick and had to spend my whole weeks allowance on cough syrup.

I can remember one week feeling so sick and I only had $3, so I got the generic NyQuil (was all that I could afford), I took it at lunch and went into class and it was a slideshow with the lights out and the professor had to wake me up when it was over. Tough to explain that I couldn't afford the "daytime" formula!

**sunshine** · 11-30-2005, 08:23 PM

Fleece throws (my soon to be DIL says she's freezing in her dorm)

Easy Mac-- she loves this and eats it for breakfast

Breafast bars

fast food gift certificates-- eating cafeteria food gets old at times, and they like to be able to join their friends for an occasional meal out.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 12-01-2005, 12:01 AM

Small sewing kits (needles, threads, safety pins, extra buttons etc.)
First aid kits (band aids, wipes, neosporin, etc.)
Fast food coupons or gift cards
Stamps, postcards, envelopes, post it notes, paper clips, etc.

**SewCrafty** · 12-01-2005, 01:49 AM

Wow, you ladies have some great ideas!

Sara, I never even thought of over the counter meds, good idea!

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-02-2005, 02:04 AM

Believe it or not, when I was a starving student, I would have welcomed some new, pretty underwear!

Don't forget gum and Kool Aid! When a friend of mine lived on a kibbutz, we sent her care packages. She got sooo excited about Kool Aid and the Zip Loc bags I put the packets in. She rewashed them and used them over and over!

Also, how about jerky or dry salami? Granola bars? A local food not found where the girls are going to college? For example, I live near the Tillamook cheese factory. People get homesick for it and many parents send the baby loaves (two lbs) to their kids.

I would have killed for a 7-11 gift card (if they had had them waaay back in the dark ages when I was in college). During finals, I lived on diet pop. I hate coffee, but needed the caffeine to stay awake after studying until 3 a.m. and having an 8 a.m. test!

When I worked at Maliboxes, Etc., we had parents who sent car packs EVERY week! I saw lots and lots of things go out. Some of these won't be apprioriate, but there are good ideas here:

BATTERIES!!!! This is an all-time favorite from all college kids
condoms
a special magazine they love
rubber bands
hats and gloves (just the cheapo ones--they get lost fast)
little Tupperware containers to store things in
extra earring backs
film and developing coupons
refills of prescriptions
stuff for labeling items (stickers, permanent markers, etc.)
yarn w. crochet hook/knitting needles
dried fruit
pictures of pets/siblings/parents/home!
washcloths

You get the idea. I hope this helps!