10 Easy-to-Mail Care Package Ideas That Will Make Their Day (and Yours!)
I’ll never forget the triumphant joy of getting my first care package during my freshman year of college. Walking across the campus quad, down the steps into the mailroom, and up to the desk to collect the parcel — I couldn’t wait to get it back to my room and open it. Still, many years out of college, I love getting and sending out little care packages to friends and family for all kinds of reasons.
Although there are no wrong care package ideas, there are some factors to keep in mind when you’re putting one together. For one, mail is generally more expensive to send the heavier it is, so it’s wise to keep your gifts relatively lightweight. Rather than sending a bag of coffee beans, for instance, you might want to include a gift card to a local coffee shop instead. There are also certain things you can’t send in the mail, like certain kinds of matches or aerosols. It’s a delicate art, but it’s well worth the effort.
Whether you’re looking for college care packages ideas, sick care package ideas, long-distance relationship care package ideas, or simply ideas for a thinking-of-you surprise delivery, here are 10 thoughtful items you may want to include.
I Miss You Card For Best Friend
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1. A Card
The first thing I look for when I open any gift is a card, and when it comes to care package ideas, a note letting the recipient know why you’re thinking of them is top of the list. You can get creative with the kind of card you use, too, whether it’s a postcard from a place you recently traveled or a museum you both love; a long, hand-lettered card; some gorgeous stationery that can double as wall art; or a series of labeled notes that they can open in different situations (like, “when you’ve had a bad day” or “you’re feeling overwhelmed”). Anything with your handwriting on it is likely to make them smile.
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Anecdote Candles
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2. Candles
What’s more comforting than lighting a candle and sitting back as the room fills up with its gorgeous aroma? Include a candle in your care package that smells like something you know they love, whether that’s pine trees, campfire, or the joy of staying in. In the interest of saving space in the box and saving money on shipping, you may want to opt for a smaller votive — these mini Diptyque candle jars are perfect for repurposing later. If you aren’t sure of their scent preferences, an electric lighter that will make their candle-lighting experience all the more elegant is an excellent care package idea.
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Amazon
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3. Tea
Whether it’s a box of sleep-inducing tea to help them feel like the Sleepytime Tea Bear himself or a fancy tin of black tea that they can steep with milk, tea is one of the classic care package ideas for a reason. It’s lightweight to mail, comforting, and a little treat they might not buy for themself otherwise.
4. A Gift Card
If you’re trying to make every ounce count in your care package, a gift card offers amazing bang for your buck. It weighs almost nothing, and lets you give as much as you want. Get one for Amazon, Target, or their local hardware store if you know they’re trying to outfit their space with household items; send one for their local coffee shop or favorite restaurant to take them out from afar; or find one for something you know they love, like a skincare website or local pottery studio.
5. Something Homemade
All care packages call for something homemade — it’s the personal touch that makes the box of things feel like a long-distance hug. What exactly that is, is completely up to you. Do you make the best baked goods? Mail a batch of cookies. Are you crafty? Send a made-for-them friendship bracelet or crocheted purse. It could be something as simple as a doodle you did for them or a playlist you made for them.
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Amazon
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6. Self-Care Supplies
Add a small something to help your loved one indulge in some self-care. Sheet masks, bath bombs (or shower steamers, if they don’t have a bathtub), hand lotion, or nail polish are all great (and relatively small and lightweight) care package ideas.
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7. Their Favorite Snacks
Nothing screams care package quite like some good old-fashioned munchies (think: their favorite candy, a bar of dark chocolate, a few hot chocolate packets, a bag of trail mix, cookies, granola bars, or even a pack of gum). Whether they’re packing a backpack for class or bag for their work commute, they’ll love having something to nosh on while thinking of you.
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8. Something Fun to Do
Some care package ideas that’ll give them a fun way to pass the time include an adult coloring book, a book of Sudoku puzzles, a craft kit, a sewing or crochet pattern, a new card game, or another travel-size activity.
9. Photos
Whether it’s a mini photo of the two of you they can tuck into their wallet or a photo of a special memory you put into a thrifted frame, including a picture or two is a sweet care package idea — and one that will hardly add any weight to your parcel.
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10. Something You Know They Need
If you’ve gotten the chance to talk to your loved one before sending a care package their way, you probably have some idea of what’s going on in their life, and what they might be missing. Maybe they’re in college prepping for finals and need some new pens; maybe they’re in a foreign country and have been craving that one brand of peanut butter they can only find at home; maybe they’re starting a new job and in need of a cute new lunch tote; maybe they’re not sleeping well and need a sleep mask or pair of earplugs.
Whatever the case, including something they’ve mentioned wanting will let them know you’ve been listening and that you’re always there for them.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
