What should I put in a care package?

(Depending on the distance) phone cards, then gift cards, non perishable foods and/or snacks, coffee or coffee making supplies, school supplies, little things that will remind her of home.. photos or something special that you share, even photo frames.

something good to share with other ppl. My boyfriend sent me a movie night care package: popcorn, a snuggie, some chocolate candies and a really good dvd.

I do these all the time for my nieces and nephews. Bulk food stores or health food stores sell bulk granola, trail mix, etc. Dried fruit also works well. One niece is a vegetarian, so all kinds of noodle dishes she can microwave. These are all light weight and easy to ship.
(Is this the first one in your family to learn to read and write?)

Condoms and money.

I think @TheOnlyNeffie had some great recommendations. I haven’t ever sent a care package to someone at school, but I send them constantly to my husband. Snacks are always a good idea and I’m sure she’ll appreciate pictures and things like that.

Go to Goodwill and find her a good, used toaster oven. she will use this oven in so many ways and will thank you, forever. Black and Decker is the best brand. my wife sells theseon ebay and they are in great demand. used by campers and college students throughout the country.

@bob- I am going to give her one of my guns ;)

@lucillelucillelucille :)

Some pictures framed of family… So she can look at her family.

Lawyers, Guns, and Money. WZ

Mace, body oils, mace, cash, mace, space saver hanger cloths hanger thingy for hanging up tons of shirts etc. in very small closets, mace, a light weight Louisville slugger to put behind the door, Dry erase message board, mace, and a real goofy hat to wear for those late night or early morning impromptu chat sessions where there is no time to do the hair routine and a MP3 player filled with Aunties favorites! Oh and a taser if you can afford it!

I’d put in a journal for her to write in.

On top of the care pack, write a list of tips, advice and warnings. As she opens the package, she will read and hopefully take note!

@Cruiser -M1 Carbine it is!!

@lucillelucillelucille Good idea! Save the Garrand for grad school!

@Cruiser -She needs it now as she’s pretty cute! :)

A Polaroid camera!

@lucillelucillelucille Then don’t give her the sissy girly M1 Carbine give her the Garand with 30–06 Frat boy stopping power!

@lucillelucillelucille Pics or it never happened. Actually, follow @Simone_De_Beauvoir advise and introduce her to Fluther ~

@Cruiser -I am not giving up the Garand…yet ;)
@Simone_De_Beauvoir -I’m not giving up my Polaroid either! ;)
@bob_ -No! XD

As the recipient of over a hundred care packages, I recommend including items your niece can find there, or can’t afford. If you include something to eat, include enough for her to share.

I almost forgot: Homemade cookies are always good to get. They’re the next best thing to firearms.

As an aside, when I lived in London, mom would send me buckwheat and dried squid – it was yums!

@Simone_De_Beauvoir That one leaves me at a loss for words.

@Adirondackwannabe :)

@Simone_De_Beauvoir and @Adirondackwannabe—You can’t make me cook! Firearms it is!!!XD

I wouldn’t send her anything now since she will be saturated with stuff from her parents and too busy to appreciate it fully. My mom sent me a package a month into school and all my friends were jealous. Wait until then and they you will get more bang for your buck.

@Zag_grad2010 Good point on the timing. Welcome to fluther. I usually tried to target mid terms and finals as good times to send food.

My parents used to include an envelope with a few bucks in it they called “mad money.” Cash, not a check. I always appreciated that.

Guns for a school kid. Some joke.

Education through fire superiority.

@Austinlad – FYI-She is a responsible young adult and a very good shot to boot ;)

@lucillelucillelucille. I’ll take your word for that and hope anyone else who might get their hands on it is,too. Nonetheless, doesn’t change my mind about her owning a gun. But I won’t bore you with my same old arguments.

@Austinlad -She is a responsible young adult…Buster! ;)

Starbucks gift certificates. Good Lord ! She is going to need it.

I don’t suppose an electric typewriter is as popular as it once was, but a compact printer would be a wonderful gift.

Aside from the things people have already said, stationery, stamps, a laptop cooling pad, pancake batter and a hamster.

@Vunessuh -What about plastic untensils in the front pocket of her suitcase?? XD

@lucillelucillelucille You mean like a dildo? XD

@bob-No,there are plenty to date in LA.
I mean plastic forks. XD

Food is seriously precious in college. Her favorite snacks/treats would be much appreciated, along with easy-to-prepare meals, like Easy Mac or Ramen (college staples).

Hahaha! I just came up with a jingle for, adapted from a 60s song, of course.

::hand claps::

Easy!
Eaaasy!
Oh, Easy Mac!!
Why don’t you buy a pack?

Because I am corny.

Since he will be doing a lot of studying, I’d get her a lot of snacks such as nuts,dried fruit and crackers. Yiu can add pens,markers, highlighters and other little things that will be useful.

A Care package to me should always include some canned solid white tuna. Chocolate chip cookies are optional, if homemade. Forget about store brand cookies.

These days, maybe a jump drive (memory stick), and any particular SD cards that her electronics require. Those can be pretty handy.

A nice ballpoint pen is always worth having.

Postage, batteries, does she have an alarm clock? A travel alarm would be helpful.