College care package

[namasteak]

One of my favorite cousins just started his freshman year at Ohio State and I'd love to send him a care package. Any suggestions? He is more like a little brother and quite close with his parents so booze is out. If you went to school there are there any local places I could get gift cards to?

So far I have:
-rapid ramen cooker
-sample pack of ramen
-rapid Mac & cheese cooker
-5 boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese

I think I'll add some home made cookies too.

Eta - his dorm is right by the stadium if that makes a difference in restaurant suggestions.

[Jalapeñomel]

Ping pong balls
Deck of cards
GC to Insomnia Cookies
Oreo cookies
MREs (because that's funny)

[namasteak]

Sept 4, 2015 8:16:46 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Ping pong balls
Deck of cards
GC to Insomnia Cookies
Oreo cookies
MREs (because that's funny)

Ooo ping pong balls and cards are a good idea!

[VillainV]

Does he live in the dorms? Sometimes "cookers" aren't allowed. Not sure what a rapid ramen/Mac n cheese cooker is like, but I would check before sending one.

I think a care package of junk food (chips, cookies, beef jerky) would probably be appreciated, either for late-nite study sessions or for sharing with his roommates and buddies. Maybe an iTunes gift card, Visa gift card, something with money he can spend (even BestBuy or Target or someplace like that). Or if possible, a gift card to the student book store so he can buy school supplies or a buckeye t-shirt or whatever.

[namasteak]

Sept 4, 2015 8:20:08 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Does he live in the dorms? Sometimes "cookers" aren't allowed. Not sure what a rapid ramen/Mac n cheese cooker is like, but I would check before sending one.

I think a care package of junk food (chips, cookies, beef jerky) would probably be appreciated, either for late-nite study sessions or for sharing with his roommates and buddies. Maybe an iTunes gift card, Visa gift card, something with money he can spend (even BestBuy or Target or someplace like that). Or if possible, a gift card to the student book store so he can buy school supplies or a buckeye t-shirt or whatever.

They are just bowls that go in the microwave and my aunt said he had a microwave in his room so I think they will be fine.

I'm headed to Target this morning so I'll pick up some single serving junk food packs to throw in the box.

Attachments:

[momin2013]

I got this book before I went away to school. Even though I was a pretty good cook even at the time, it would have been a cute gift for someone who...isn't.

www.amazon.com/Cooking-Cooks-Dictionary-Henry-Beard/dp/0894808435

Definitely do the homemade cookies, those will be a hit. Also be sure to send a funny/heartfelt note, something that will cheer him up if he's feeling homesick.

[londoncalling]

GC for a pizza chain that delivers to campus.

[namasteak]

Sept 4, 2015 8:26:52 GMT -5 londoncalling said:

GC for a pizza chain that delivers to campus.

Anyone have a suggestion for this? I assume Dominos does but maybe there is a better local place....

[6fsn]

All I know is there is a Panera near the stadium.

[bowies]

Some Kleenex to mourn that he's going to Ohio State?

[londoncalling]

Ohio State is a giant campus. I would put his residence hall into google maps and see what dining options come up close to him.

[namasteak]

Sept 4, 2015 8:35:31 GMT -5 6fsn said:

All I know is there is a Panera near the stadium.

And a Panera near me which makes getting a GC easy

[6fsn]

Of course near at OSU is relative. It's just where I meet DH for lunch and he works near the stadium.

[shortstax]

So, I actually work on campus right by the horseshoe. I'll ask my favorite student worker for some ideas

Stay tuned...

[Deleted]

I would just include as much junk food as you can afford to mail. I loved that as a college kid.

[namasteak]

Sept 4, 2015 9:06:30 GMT -5 shortstax said:

So, I actually work on campus right by the horseshoe. I'll ask my favorite student worker for some ideas

Stay tuned...

Perfect!

I'm planning on spending about $150 more (including shipping) if that helps.

[loira]

Are there any treats that he can't get there that he normally loves at home? I went to school on the east coast and couldn't find Old Dutch chips, all they had were Lays (yuck). My parents usually put a bag or two in a care package for me.

[CrazyLucky]

I "sponsored" a kid from church last year. I thought I could make him some goodies. Turns out he's a health nut. He requested GC for google play, so he could get books, music, or apps. I also sent him a couple of books and I sent him small things at holiday times to decorate his dorm room. Nothing girly, just a way to make his room a little more personal. No idea if he used any of it, but he was very polite with his thank yous.

[VillainV]

Sept 4, 2015 9:06:49 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

I would just include as much junk food as you can afford to mail. I loved that as a college kid.

Flat Rate boxes from USPS are great for this :-). You can cram those things pretty full.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I'd definitely include some junk food. Gummy candy, cookies, etc. Homemade is great, but store bought is fine too.

[shortstax]

Sept 4, 2015 9:13:10 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Sept 4, 2015 9:06:30 GMT -5 shortstax said:

So, I actually work on campus right by the horseshoe. I'll ask my favorite student worker for some ideas

Stay tuned...

Perfect!

I'm planning on spending about $150 more (including shipping) if that helps.

Suggestions from a few OSU students...

Gift card ideas:
Barnes and Noble (they run the official OSU bookstore, so this could be used for Gameday gear)*
Chipotle
Jimmy Johns
Target - if he lives in the towers there's one SUPER close (about a mile away) that students can walk to (or it's on an easy bus line)


Apparently the best pizza is from Adriatico's, but their website doesn't offer a GC method---so maybe cash for pizza?


Food:
packs of gum
popcorn
Clif bars
chocolate or cookies


non food items:
ping pong balls
extra earbuds
chapstick
thumb drive
Some warm socks to wear on football saturdays when the weather gets cold*


*if he's into OSU sports, they all agreed these would be the best.


Fun fact - the kid who gave the idea for socks is typically the biggest jokester ever, but when I asked him for ideas he was so pensive then gave the most practical answer of all of them. I was just thinking "wow, maybe this kid can be serious" but then he followed it up with "and a pack of good condoms, not the generic ones they give out at Wilce (student health center)"   So, yeah...

[namasteak]

Sept 4, 2015 9:47:34 GMT -5 shortstax said:

Sept 4, 2015 9:13:10 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Perfect!

I'm planning on spending about $150 more (including shipping) if that helps.

Suggestions from a few OSU students...

Gift card ideas:
Barnes and Noble (they run the official OSU bookstore, so this could be used for Gameday gear)*
Chipotle
Jimmy Johns
Target - if he lives in the towers there's one SUPER close (about a mile away) that students can walk to (or it's on an easy bus line)


Apparently the best pizza is from Adriatico's, but their website doesn't offer a GC method---so maybe cash for pizza?


Food:
packs of gum
popcorn
Clif bars
chocolate or cookies


non food items:
ping pong balls
extra earbuds
chapstick
thumb drive
Some warm socks to wear on football saturdays when the weather gets cold*


*if he's into OSU sports, they all agreed these would be the best.


Fun fact - the kid who gave the idea for socks is typically the biggest jokester ever, but when I asked him for ideas he was so pensive then gave the most practical answer of all of them. I was just thinking "wow, maybe this kid can be serious" but then he followed it up with "and a pack of good condoms, not the generic ones they give out at Wilce (student health center)"   So, yeah...

Thank you so much! This is really helpful

He lives for sports! He is some kind of special program for sports management and his room has a view of the stadium.

[mannah]

Sept 4, 2015 8:37:08 GMT -5 bowies said:

Some Kleenex to mourn that he's going to Ohio State?

I was going to suggest a nice Michigan sweatshirt.

[matildasun]

A friend's mother sent me a shoe box full of homemade chex mix. 24 years later, I still remember how happy it made me.

[bronxgirl]

Sept 4, 2015 8:37:08 GMT -5 bowies said:

Some Kleenex to mourn that he's going to Ohio State?

You are dead to me.

[shortstax]

Sept 4, 2015 10:10:29 GMT -5 mannah said:

Sept 4, 2015 8:37:08 GMT -5 bowies said:

Some Kleenex to mourn that he's going to Ohio State?

I was going to suggest a nice Michigan sweatshirt.

They might be on sale after last night's game  (hot)