Care packages

[katherineH]

For those in religious life or who have been in religious life - what are some good items to put in a care package? A friend of mine recently entered religious life. I was going to send her some stamps and snacks. Anything else that can come in handy?

[Nunsuch]

I would be careful about snacks, as some communities may regulate them. Be aware that anything you send may be shared.

[Ceaseless-Longing]

I sometimes put extra colored pens in a letter, or perhaps some stationary. The likelihood is that the contents will be shared, but she is always so happy to be able to make her letters a little prettier! Some orders required those in formation to provide their own stamps so we would send her stamps. Hahaha, we even offered to mail her the very specific brand and scent of deodorant she liked if it was allowed!

[Spem in alium]

Stationery (especially stamps!!! maybe some cards and envelopes too), a diary for the coming year, scented wardrobe hangers or soap (I put scented soaps in my wardrobe to keep it fresh), tea/coffee. You could maybe even write her a little note or letter if you feel it's appropriate. Snacks are nice to include. We generally share gifts of food with one another. I think it makes them all the more special.

[TheresaThoma]

Stamps, a small sewing kit, fun stationary and/or pens.

For a friend a group of us got together and wrote her a few letters each. Each one on the outside had "Open when...." and the topic they were a mix of encouraging letters (for tough moments) and joyful letters. We gave them to her all at once so she would have them to open as needed. It was relatively easy I she loved it.

[AveMariaPurissima]

5 minutes ago, TheresaThoma said:

Stamps, a small sewing kit, fun stationary and/or pens.

For a friend a group of us got together and wrote her a few letters each. Each one on the outside had "Open when...." and the topic they were a mix of encouraging letters (for tough moments) and joyful letters. We gave them to her all at once so she would have them to open as needed. It was relatively easy I she loved it.

I love that idea!  

[Kayte Postle]

Such wonderful ideas!

A side question related to this, do you think it would be appropriate to send a care package to a community as a whole?

[Spem in alium]

1 hour ago, TheresaThoma said:

For a friend a group of us got together and wrote her a few letters each. Each one on the outside had "Open when...." and the topic they were a mix of encouraging letters (for tough moments) and joyful letters. We gave them to her all at once so she would have them to open as needed. It was relatively easy I she loved it.

This is a beautiful idea. For my acceptance as an aspirant, my siblings gave me a journal in which they'd each written me a letter. There were also photos of us (recent and from childhood), a few psalms and prayers, and blank pages for my own entries. It touched my heart.

1 hour ago, Kayte Postle said:

Such wonderful ideas!

A side question related to this, do you think it would be appropriate to send a care package to a community as a whole?

Yes! That's a lovely idea. I think it would make their day, and it means everyone gets to enjoy more freely in the gift.

 

 

[He is Risen!]

The community I was in had an ongoing "wishlist" that was kept by the phone just in case someone would call and offer to bring something.  Usually it had on it stamps, international phone cards, or household things like tape or matches.  Maybe this community keeps a similar running list?  If we got something that was nice that we didn't use like a box of fancy candy or a smelly candle, etc. we would hold onto it to re-gift to someone outside the community.  (We had a huge basement closet of re-giftables)  One thing that was always a big treat was getting some kind of chapstick that wasn't just a regular chapstick, it had to be uncolored and not look too expensive, something like plain Burts Bees was my favorite kind of thing to get.  I also might note that some sisters never sent a care package while other sisters seemed to get one just about every week.  It was really nice when sisters who got packages shared their stuff (it had to go into the common pantry anyway) but what I'm saying is, if it is within your means, throw in an extra chapstick or whatever because it might mean a lot to that sister who never gets anything.

[Gabriela]

Innocents and fools, the lot of you. What that woman needs is a carton of cigarettes, a case of Bailey's, and a Netflix subscription.

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

 

[Nunsuch]

43 minutes ago, Gabriela said:

Innocents and fools, the lot of you. What that woman needs is a carton of cigarettes, a case of Bailey's, and a Netflix subscription.

Actually, I know a contemplative community that had a "movie night" every Friday--and I regularly gave them a (1 DVD) Netflix subscription. 

[Gabriela]

6 minutes ago, Nunsuch said:

Actually, I know a contemplative community that had a "movie night" every Friday--and I regularly gave them a (1 DVD) Netflix subscription. 

[Kayte Postle]

Here is another thread from way back that is similar, and has some great ideas! One thing I might do for the community care package is make homemade holy cards. The community is on the smaller side, so I'd be sure everyone could get one. Or I've thought about drawing my own holy cards for them, maybe using their name patron. (time to put that art degree of mine to use!)

[Gabriela]

48 minutes ago, Kayte Postle said:

Here is another thread from way back that is similar, and has some great ideas! One thing I might do for the community care package is make homemade holy cards. The community is on the smaller side, so I'd be sure everyone could get one. Or I've thought about drawing my own holy cards for them, maybe using their name patron. (time to put that art degree of mine to use!)

=  +  

 

2 hours ago, Gabriela said:

Innocents and fools, the lot of you. What that woman needs is a carton of cigarettes, a case of Bailey's, and a Netflix subscription.

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

 

=     +  

[katherineH]

Thanks everyone for the ideas.  I ended up getting some candy she requested, Reese's peanut butter cups because there are several non-American postulants and I thought they should discover the wonder of the peanut-chocolate combination, microwave popcorn for their movie nights, and chap stick.  Oh and healthy granola bars too because I don't want the postulant mistress to think I'm trying to spread diabetes in the community with all of the sweets 

[Antigonos]

Coming in a bit late to this thread, but if you have, or can obtain, any information on what sort of hobbies or handcrafts the sisters do during recreation, supplies might be a welcome gift.

During my convalescence from my hip replacement in November, I became addicted, thanks to my daughter, to "adult" coloring books.  When making holy cards was mentioned, it occurred to me that multicolored gel pens or other coloring media might be appreciated by those who like to dabble in art.  In my experience, too, yarn for knitting rarely goes unused.  Even a box of odds and ends can be used for crocheting squares that wind up as afghans, throws, or baby blankets.

[andibc]

A few years ago I sent my daughter, who is a religious sister, a blank journal and some fancy sparkly markers for her feast day. I knew there was a good chance someone else would end up using them, but what I didn't know is just how well God works these things out. When dd took the items from the package at recreation, the sister next to her made a little gasp.  The markers were exactly the colors she needed for a class project that she needed to finish.  Dd did keep the journal for sketching and I learned that when it comes to care packages to the sisters, I should just wander through the store and pick up whatever calls to me...within reason of course.

 

Edited August 13, 2016 by andibc