Author Topic: What's in your care packages? (Read 3534 times)

JHU_Admin · « **on:** March 10, 2008, 07:31 PM »

Whether it's to get them through a tough week of exams, to send them a little taste of home when they're feeling particularly homesick, or to just stock up their food supply when they've run out of ramen noodles, the chances are that most every parent has sent at least one "care package" to their Blue Jay at Hopkins.

What do you pack in that box when you want to send your student a little bit of home while they're away? Are there any "essentials" that you always include? Any special items besides food?

JHU_Diane · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2008, 10:48 PM »

It's always a nice surprise for your child to receive a care package! Also, sending a holiday box for Valentine's Day and Halloween is a great idea. It's fun to shop for the goodies that you put in there! :D Let's see....Valentine's Day package included a heart filled with candy from an amazing candy store back home to an article of clothing and other special treats. An absolute essential...tastykakes! Adding a funny card that can be hung in the dorm room is also a nice touch. Something that is definitely appreciated is some "pocket change". ;)

The post office has priorty mail flat rate boxes that come in handy when sending heavy things. You can essentially fill one of those boxes with anything for one price. It's a good deal and gets there in 2-3 days.

JHU_Rob · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2008, 07:43 AM »

I love care packages. My mom recently sent one to me that included four water guns, a package of about 500 water balloons and some other essential things I have been needing. It was pretty cool.

JHU_Laura · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:32 AM »

Flat Rate boxes are fantastic--especially for shipping books, magazines, foods etc---anything heavy; AND they arrive really quickly.
I LOVE care packages, they have to be one of the most exciting things about going away to school!

JHU_Lori · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2008, 01:07 PM »

Not only are care packages fun to receive, from a mom's viewpoint, they are fun to give. It is great to be able to come up with something to send that you know will let your son or daughter know you are thinking of them and put a smile on their face - my favorites are snacks like Mrs. Fields cookies or halloween candy and dvds or other "entertainment" that can give an excuse to take a break and relax.

JHU_MichelleB · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2008, 02:59 PM »

One of the best care packages I ever got was this year, my senior year.

My mom had some coupons for a really good package deal from Omaha Steaks- in case you're not familiar with the company, they can send premium steaks and meat through the mail. They ship it overnight in a cooler on dry ice. So, I got a phone call from my Dad saying "Make sure you check the mail today", and I had gotten this AMAZING cooler that had 4 Filet Minons, 4 pork chops, 4 sirloin steaks, 8 hamburgers, 10 premium hot dogs, 2 servings of Filet of Sol stuffed with crab meat and scallops, 10 servings of potatoes au gratin, AND thrown in? A free steak knife set with a cutting board.

That kept me fed really well for a LONG TIME. Best care package idea EVER!

(It's more of a 'later in their college life' care package though for when we're actually cooking for ourselves and have our own kitchen)

JHU_Tabitha · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2008, 09:25 PM »

I know my mom (lives in UK) wouldn't send me home-baked goods because it would cost too much to send them and have them get here before they got stale, so instead she went on the Harry and David site and sent me a package off of there!
It was a really cool package because it had the most delicious pears ever in it, and some candy, and fudge, it was yummy.
My favorite package was the first one she sent me, so it was a huge surprise, and it was first semester just after my first few midterms, and i'd gotten a bad grade and was upset, and i check my mail to find a Harry and David package, which was their cheesecake sampler; the cheesecake definitely helped me feel better!

JHU_Esther · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:09 PM »

My aunt sends me a care package every month. Sometimes it's small, like a tea towel, or big, like a teapot and tea. It's so much fun to get something in the mail to unwrap. My temple also sends out great care packages around exam time. Also sometimes I get one for Purim. They usually send a mask and a random assortment of things, tea, hot coco, soup, chocolate, gum, and dreidels (all kosher of course).

JHU_Siobhan · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2008, 09:05 PM »

My mom has sent me some really great ones this year. A group of moms all got together and has a mass care package making party. My box was full of close to 15 things, one from each mom!! It was soo sweet!! Also, I love when the guys across the hall get care packages b/c then I get stuff from theirs' and they get stuff from mine!!!

JHU_Stefanie · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2008, 06:21 PM »

I love the idea of care packages. My mom insists on sending me "snacks" do enjoy while I study. Honestly, sometimes they're very generic snacks like pretzels. Although she realizes I am fully capable of purchasing such things at the Charles Street Market on campus, she thinks it's really important to send them. Mothers are so great!

coolcotma · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2008, 09:30 PM »

We purchased this package for our daughter at the end of July, but have found that she apparently did not receive the 'welcome basket' (our inquiry was met with incomprehension). Unfortunately, I did not keep a copy of the order though I do have proof that the check was cashed. Who do I need to contact?

JHU_Diane · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2008, 11:54 PM »

Was this something that you ordered through a group on campus or was it something that was done through a private company?

If this was a JHU organization/club sponsored welcome basket, I would contact that particular organization/club. They should be able to point you in the right direction after you contact them. If you can't find that group's info on JHU's website, and you can let us know what club or organization it was, I'm sure one of us would be able to help you with a way to contact them.

coolcotma · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2008, 01:05 PM »

Hi Diane
The Collegiate Welcome Service Program was described on a flyer included with the orientation materials sent to us. Usually, I make a copy of everything, but did not do so this time. :(

JHU_Diane · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2008, 05:08 PM »

Oh, I do remember something like that being sent to us this time last year. I actually never used that service though. Maybe one of the freshman moms or dads might still have one of the order forms/brochure and can help with that info. ;)

Also, just so you know, you can order "care packages" right before exam time from the Circle K club. It's an assortment of goodies to snack on while studying for exams. I have ordered these twice now and it seems like a nice thing, plus the money you pay goes toward their activities. They usually send info in the mail to the parents and you can personalize a little card and seal it in an envelop that you send back along with the payment for the basket that you ordered. Just something to keep in mind for the future.

**I also found this online....could this be the company you ordered it through?

https://www.welcomepacks.org/guarantee.aspx

JHU_Jessica · « **Reply #14 on:** September 09, 2008, 06:42 PM »

Hi!

I was able to talk to someone on the orientation staff about this and found out information that I think will help you.

Barnes and Noble Johns Hopkins does a "Welcome Package" that was enclosed in the first mailing where parents can pre-purchase packages for various holidays/birthdays for their students. (ex- Halloween candy for Halloween)

The contact for that is calling the Bookstore directly and asking for Rebecca LaFleur (she is the store manager who has been Orientation's direct contact). I found this phone number for the bookstore: 410-662-5850, so I would try that and see if you can get in touch with Rebecca.

Best of luck...and hope this helped!

coolcotma · « **Reply #15 on:** September 10, 2008, 05:23 PM »

Thank you, Diane and Jessica! Based on your information, I looked up Johns Hopkins Barnes and Noble and found a contact e-mail address (later, I also spoke with Kathy at the contact number); the response to my inquiry was prompt and Kathy was quite pleasant as well as apologetic for the delay. The upshot is that the packages have arrived at JHU and students will be notified shortly to pick them up. Since the service is not directly out of JHU, various school opening dates are considered before shipping the packages; for security reasons, the packages are not directly delivered to the dorms.

Mary

JHU_Rob · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2008, 10:09 AM »

I LOVE CARE PACKAGES

JHU_Peter · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2008, 12:16 PM »

I haven't gotten a care package persay (I'm sure I will, I know my parents. Haha) But they have sent me packages of stuff that I forgot, such as a poster, portuguese flag, tennis racket, red sox stuff, etc. Then, I also got something from my sister, so that was cool, it was this Halloween pillowcase with Domo on it (Japanese claymation character thing). But I definitely love getting mail, its really nice.

JHU_Dominique · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2008, 02:16 AM »

Bad thing about living 20 min from home--people don't tend to send care packages :P

JHU_Ian · « **Reply #19 on:** December 16, 2011, 02:25 PM »

My parents sent me some of my favorite things from home that I can't get in the US: some Italian cookies, my favorite pasta and a postcard. It was really great.
One of my Aunts sent me one too that was just filled with homemade cookies, and those kept me alive all through finals period. You can't go wrong with homemade goods!

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Author Topic: What's in your care packages? (Read 3534 times)

JHU_Siobhan