What should I put in a sympathy care package?

My condolences.
Here is a website and some of the first gift baskets are targeted towards the loss of loved ones. Click on each one for ideas for your own.

banana bread, coffee, some fresh baked goods, fruit

I think that would be thoughtful

old photos of your friend if you have any

a beautiful white comforting candle

sorry for your loss, your freind

Company.

Postage stamps. It might sound weird now, but later when they start thinking about thank you notes & letters, they’ll be grateful.

Herbal tea. I recommend Tension Tamer from celestial seasonings. It is kind of soothing. Perhaps a nice poem printed in calligraphy would be a sentimental gesture. I think it would be reasonable to include a nice frame or photo album because photographs will be very important to them now.

I like the idea of old photos, perhaps you could put an album together for them. There is nothing better than time and patience though, it depends on how close you were to the family? Maybe start a memory book that they can pass round after the funeral, put your favourite memory then hand round with a pen, the parents/family can then look back at all the different times their loved one has touched someone else’s life.

I personally don’t like the idea of a sympathy care package.

Put a bunch of yummy things in it.

A nice box of fluffy tissues. A book on grieving. a scented candle, some yummy, homemade cookies and your phone number, should you be needed.

My mother passed a couple of weeks ago, and we would have loved a gift basket. The usual food basket (sweets, cheese, etc.) would have been nice and any pictures would have also been appreciated. The (non-perishable) food is great to have on hand in case visitors stop by.