College "care package" question

[leebee]

DD19 (today!) goes to college here in our home town, so I don't have a lot of experience with sending care packages. However, a good friend's son is having a birthday soon and I want to send him something. Recently there was a thread about this, which I cannot find even with "search", that talked about a company that sends popcorn gift packages. I searched online but none of the names are familiar. Can someone help me out? Who do you order care packages from for your favorite college kid?

 

[java]

Do you mean The Popcorn Factory?
http://www2.thepopcornfactory.com/?storeId=10201&catalogId=10101&cm_mmc=HomeEntry-_-Site2-_-na-_-na

 

[tvguy]

DD19 (today!) goes to college here in our home town, so I don't have a lot of experience with sending care packages. However, a good friend's son is having a birthday soon and I want to send him something. Recently there was a thread about this, which I cannot find even with "search", that talked about a company that sends popcorn gift packages. I searched online but none of the names are familiar. Can someone help me out? Who do you order care packages from for your favorite college kid?

Never used any of the services. Always got flyers from my kids colleges about this. About 75 percent of the stuff in those packages my kids would never eat.....(beef jerky not a big hit with my daughter the vegeterian), neither would eat ramen, the college staple. We would just drop off a box of stuff they liked, a case of Easy Mac, bottled water, cheese sticks, boxed milk (the stuff you don't need to refrigerate until you open it) , and cereal.

 

[scbelleatheart]

The schools my kids went to (small schools, Mt Union, ONU, BG) sent flyers for various gift packs you could order for things like finals, etc. Ussually done by a service org, sorority at the school or Boosters for the ball teams. They were a good price and it made them money for their charities.
When they all transferred to Ohio State we saw nothing like that.

 

[Hannathy]

I always just made them up myself. Especially with boys! They don't care if it is pretty just good to eat! And you get a lot more for your money if you put it together yourself.

Just put a few bags of candy bars (all the trick or treat stuff is out) some hot chocolate, popcorn, coffee,fruit snacks, some toy like bucky balls, or a movie and you are set. If you know if there is a Subway or Jimmy Johns or other food place a gift card to there would be icing on the cake.

The truth is they just like to get mail and anything you would send will be greatly appreciated!

 

[ez]

For my daughter, I just go thru the grocery store and looks for portion size, yummy but healthy snack type things. The first one I sent, I mailed priority usps, and it was supposed to get there in 2 days and took a week. As a former postal employee, I was a little shocked and very unimpressed. So last week I got 3 grocery bag fulls of snacks and like easy mac microwave stuff, and small cereals, granola bars etc, puddings, I took them into a UPS store. They boxed it up for me and even though I didnt pay for anything special, it was tracked and she got it the next day. I will definitely be mailing her stuff up UPS from now on!

 

[clh2]

I have also been sending DD care packages. I think we have sent 3 so far. We will be sending another one this week.

REALLY - anything you send will be fine. They just love to get anything. My DD got a care package this past week from her BFF's parents. It was a nice surprise for DD -and oddly enough - we didn't send DD one this week.

For one care package - we sent pancake mix; chocolate chips and microwave bacon. DD just loved that one!

Also - anything homemade is always welcome too - chocolate chip cookies especially!

And - another thing we sent was a pack of football-shaped Oreos!

For homecoming week I am sending stuff in DD's school colors.

And - don't forget about local restaurants - sometimes a break from dorm food is very welcome! (I.e. - DD has a subway and a Pizza Hut really close by). The "bonus" of sending a giftcard is the postage is a lot less!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Send local treats they can't get at home. When I'd visit my friends in college in Springfield, MO I was always required to bring a case of Sundrop with me because it wasn't available in Springfield back then. That was the price for letting me sleep on the couch for the weekend. So, IMO you should think along those lines.

 

[Erin1700]

For my daughter, I just go thru the grocery store and looks for portion size, yummy but healthy snack type things. The first one I sent, I mailed priority usps, and it was supposed to get there in 2 days and took a week. As a former postal employee, I was a little shocked and very unimpressed. So last week I got 3 grocery bag fulls of snacks and like easy mac microwave stuff, and small cereals, granola bars etc, puddings, I took them into a UPS store. They boxed it up for me and even though I didnt pay for anything special, it was tracked and she got it the next day. I will definitely be mailing her stuff up UPS from now on!

How do prices regular post office vs UPS compare? I hate how long packages take to arrive when I mail regular mail.

 

[Patience]

I am taking a care package to our daughter next weekend because we will be at her college attending a football game. So far, I have a lot of the nutella and bread sticks combination packs (she loves those), microwave popcorn and several packages of cereal in the ready made bowls plus containers of box milk because she doesn't have time to eat breakfast at the dining hall in the mornings. I am also taking her some more bottled water and I am going to go by Jimmy John's and buy her a gift card to give her a break from the dining hall food.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

How do prices regular post office vs UPS compare? I hate how long packages take to arrive when I mail regular mail.

<<<Shipping guy here - it depends on the weight. USPS is usually cheaper for very small packages, or flat rate. UPS takes over when the weight goes up. Just as an FYI, it's much cheaper to ship UPS through a corporate discount than via the UPS store which not only charges full price, but typically tacks on a service fee. I ship all my packages through work & then reimburse my employer. This has been allowed everywhere that I've worked for any length of time - some even do payroll deduction for the amount. Check to see what your employer's policy is. If allowed, it will almost certainly save you a few bucks.

 

[mamacatnv]

I used to buy the small plastic bins that had a lid with a handle, then fill it with goodies. The bin is useful in their dorms when the goodies are gone and if taped shut, can be sent as is or placed into a box. DS attended a local college so we would usually just drop it at the front desk.

We always included favorite treats, a gift card or 2 for a local coffee place etc.
Then I hit the novelty aisle at Target and sent sticky hands, mini basketball hoop with a nerf ball, hangman score pads, super balls, Slinky, Silly Putty, Nerf dart guns etc. College kids are still kids and they like the silly stuff from home. Think fun stocking stuffers.

 

[tcufrog]

Make sure to include enough for the college student to share with roommates and good friends. Homemade treats are always popular because cafeteria and fast food get old after while. Also, before you send stuff like pancake and cookie mix make sure the student has access to a kitchen. Not all dorms have them these days.

 

[low-key]

I bet Gift cards to places like Subway would come in handy

 

[leebee]

Yes- The Popcorn Factory was what I was looking for! Thanks, Java, for answering the question!

Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions for making my own gift packs, but I was looking for someplace to order from. I am working two full time jobs this fall, and just don't have any time to go shopping. Christmas presents will be ordered online, I'm afraid... the the money was too good to turn down!

 

[SC Minnie]

Yes- The Popcorn Factory was what I was looking for! Thanks, Java, for answering the question!

Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions for making my own gift packs, but I was looking for someplace to order from. I am working two full time jobs this fall, and just don't have any time to go shopping. Christmas presents will be ordered online, I'm afraid... the the money was too good to turn down!

Search around on their site. I sent DD and our bonus DD packages from Popcorn Factory 2 weeks ago. They had some good packages for 50% off. The girls got their packages in about a week.

 

[StitchFanZ]

My vote is for Mrs Fields cookies - http://www.mrsfields.com/

 

[lynnthetwin]

<<<Shipping guy here - it depends on the weight. USPS is usually cheaper for very small packages, or flat rate. UPS takes over when the weight goes up. Just as an FYI, it's much cheaper to ship UPS through a corporate discount than via the UPS store which not only charges full price, but typically tacks on a service fee. I ship all my packages through work & then reimburse my employer. This has been allowed everywhere that I've worked for any length of time - some even do payroll deduction for the amount. Check to see what your employer's policy is. If allowed, it will almost certainly save you a few bucks.

Shipping GAL here...I manage a UPS Store and we do not have a "service charge" on our shipping rates. We charge the same as any UPS hub would charge.

 

[Erin1700]

<<<Shipping guy here - it depends on the weight. USPS is usually cheaper for very small packages, or flat rate. UPS takes over when the weight goes up. Just as an FYI, it's much cheaper to ship UPS through a corporate discount than via the UPS store which not only charges full price, but typically tacks on a service fee. I ship all my packages through work & then reimburse my employer. This has been allowed everywhere that I've worked for any length of time - some even do payroll deduction for the amount. Check to see what your employer's policy is. If allowed, it will almost certainly save you a few bucks.

Thank you! I appreciate you sharing your wisdom!