Care Packages: Must-Haves and Don’t-Sends

Care packages: they’re useful, fun and students love to receive them. Although they can be especially helpful for students who are just transitioning from high school to college, opening one’s mailbox on campus and seeing that little piece of paper that heralds the arrival of a package is exhilarating at any stage in the postsecondary experience. Care packages can be a tangible way of showing a student that you are looking out for them and want to send them some joy, so here are a few tips for sending them from wherever you are! 

First, care packages can and should be fun for your student to receive, so don’t be afraid to send fun items or activities for them to enjoy. Coloring books, new pens or stress toys (think stress balls, slime or other items to keep one’s hands busy) can provide students with a much-needed “brain break” during a long homework session. Make sure items that can spill are sealed, tightly packed and upright, however! An open container of putty or slime could make for a very interesting unboxing experience.  

Chances are that, as the school year wears on, your student may become tired of eating dining hall food day after day – or they don’t have a meal plan this year and are bored of their own cooking! Sometimes, the best cure for this is a care package full of fun snacks and even home-baked goods. While many foods that college students love can survive a few days in the mail, pay attention to the outside temperature and the food’s shelf stability when you send it! Certain items simply will not last throughout a trip in very hot or very cold weather, but many will – so take care to buy or make foods that travel well. Alternately, for students who like to drink tea, coffee or flavored water, instant beverages of various sorts can be an easy addition.  

Apart from the snacks and fun items that your student may want, care packages can also include items that students need for life on Concordia’s campus! Quarters to pay for loads of laundry, a gas station gift card or small cleaning or skincare supplies can serve as a functional addition to any care package. College students’ budgets are not notoriously large, so sending items like these can help their money stretch. Don’t send cleaning supplies or other products with chemicals in them without being careful to package them to avoid spills and leaks – especially if you place food in the same package!  

What makes a care package a care package, however, is that touch of something personal. Including a handwritten note or a picture from home along with fun and useful items and snacks makes your package something that your student will cherish. Your note can be short, or it can be more of a letter, but whatever you include in your student’s package is sure to brighten their day and let them know how much you care for and love them.  

When you’re unsure of what to send in a care package, turn to the experts! Concordia offers pre-made care packages themed for birthdays, finals week and the all-encompassing “just because!” These packages include small treats, candy and stress-relievers curated to make students feel cared for. You can even provide a personal note that will end up in the package when your student receives it. What makes these packages unique, however, is that the money spent on them goes to support Concordia students who choose to travel on mission trips to spread God’s Word!  

Care packages don’t have to be fancy. They don’t have to be big or extravagant (in fact, bulky items are better for giving your student in-person over a break); they just must be filled with love. They can be comforting, filled with favorite foods and fun activities, and useful, with supplies that your student needs to thrive in college. Freshmen through seniors alike will appreciate receiving a box full of favorite items in their mailbox, no matter the time of year.  

Check out Concordia’s premade care package offerings here!