The holidays are fast approaching, and if you have a loved one away at college or serving overseas in the military, then you’ll no doubt be looking for Thanksgiving care package ideas to mail to them.
Putting together a special Thanksgiving care package is a thoughtful way to share some holiday cheer, especially if you’re not going to see a family member or friend for Thanksgiving dinner this year.
With just a little creativity and planning, you can assemble a personalized package that will put a smile on their face no matter how far from home they may be.
Below are some fun and unique Thanksgiving care package ideas to put together the perfect care package for the Thanksgiving break.
From edible treats to handmade gifts, you’ll find inspiration to craft a box stuffed with slices of Thanksgiving right to their doorstep.
Included are a variety of budget-friendly ideas along with more indulgent options if you want to pull out all the stops.
These food, gift, and decoration ideas for Thanksgiving care packages are suited to college students, military members, or any loved one spending the holiday away from home this November.
Start with the box
If you don’t already have an empty gift box or basket you’re going to fill with goodies this holiday season, cheap gift boxes from Amazon work perfectly as Thanksgiving gift baskets.
Any pretty basket or box will also do for a care package container. You can decorate them as you wish with ribbons, stickers or colored paper.
Food and drink
No list of Thanksgiving care package ideas would be complete without some of the best food and drink we love at this time of year.
Canned, boxed and wrapped foods and drinks are the perfect gift to send to someone who’s spending Thanksgiving day away from home. It will help them to feel more at home and part of the celebrations if they have familiar items to enjoy.
Plus, what better way is there to enjoy this holiday than with some delicious treats and holiday food.
Here are some of the best food and drink items to add to a Thanksgiving care package:
- Turkey jerky or dried turkey strips
- Stove Top stuffing mix (they just need to add hot water for an instant taste of Thanksgiving)
- Canned pumpkin (perfect for making a quick pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread)
- Mashed potato flakes (just add water for fluffy mash)
- Gravy mix
- Cranberry sauce (it’s just not Thanksgiving without it)
- Mini marshmallows
- Baked good mixes (for homemade cornbread or pumpkin bread, for example)
- Hot chocolate
- Nostalgic treats for this time of year (for example, candy corn or ginger snaps)
- Apple cider
- Potato chips
- Pancake mix
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Microwave popcorn
- Pumpkin-flavored snacks
- Pumpkin spice
- Herbal teas like chamomile or peppermint
These are all great festive treats that people will love to receive in their Thanksgiving care kit. If you know of any particular favorite snacks they have, be sure to include those too.
Make sure not to include anything that might spoil if you’re mailing the care package. For example, adding in their favorite cheeses isn’t great unless you’re hand delivering the Thanksgiving box.
If sending pumpkins or canned pumpkin, you can also send ideas for what to do with leftover pumpkin.
Comfort items
Thanksgiving and the fall season is general is the perfect time to cozy up. This is true if you’re in the military, at college and living in a dorm room, or at your own home.
When you’re putting together a care package for a loved one at Thanksgiving, make sure to include some home comforts that they will really appreciate.
Some great Thanksgiving gift ideas for your care package are:
- Fleece socks
- A super soft blanket or throw in fall colors
- Pumpkin-scented lip balm
- A candle with fall scents like pumpkin, cinnamon, or apple
- Slippers
- Fizzy bath bombs
- A deeply moisturizing body lotion
- Hydrating sheet masks for self-care
- A Thanksgiving-themed sweatshirt or t-shirt
Any cozy, soothing items that promote relaxation or mental wellbeing can provide comfort to someone missing home on Thanksgiving.
Fun activities
It’s a really good idea to include small gifts in your care package for people to entertain themselves with if they’re missing out on a Thanksgiving gathering this year.
These are some great care package gifts to help your loved one either while away the time or just stay happy and contented while spending Thanksgiving alone:
- Adult Thanksgiving coloring book and pencils
- Guided journal, preferably one that includes prompts to write down thoughts and feel gratitude
- A meaningful photo in a frame to remind them of home
- Inspirational book full of uplifting stories or meditations
- A painting kit for therapeutic creativity with a Thanksgiving twist
- An A to Z gratitude list
- A custom jigsaw puzzle featuring a Thanksgiving scene or a collage of family photos
- A good book (perhaps one you’ve read which you think they’ll enjoy, or a new release from one of their favorite authors)
Little extras
Here are lots of additional ideas for little extras you can place in your care package.
Some of the best Thanksgiving gifts are of a personal nature, so you can put together a custom gift box containing a few special items that you know the person will really love.
There are also some ideas for some small items that make a great addition to the rest of the gifts in your care package:
- Handwritten letters or note cards (for example from a best friend, or members of the whole family)
- Decorations for their room, such as a garland of fall leaves
- A Thanksgiving placemat, plate and cutlery
- Disposable pie tins for baking pumpkin pies
- Customized recipe book with a collection of family recipes for Thanksgiving dishes
- Gift card to a store they love so they can treat themselves
A Thanksgiving care package is a great way to remind someone how important they are to you on Turkey Day. It can help bring a lot of joy into someone’s life if they are away over the holidays, such as in military service or for work.
You can get creative with combining edible treats, festive and fall favorites, warm blankets, gift cards and a thoughtful note to make your recipient feel the love this Thanksgiving.
Frequently asked questions
For Thanksgiving you could send a food basket filled with gourmet treats, or surprise them with a freshly baked pie. Send a cooking kit, meal delivery, or cozy beverages like gourmet coffee or specialty tea, fall-scented candles, or add a personal touch with custom kitchen accessories. Other gift options include games or puzzles, a fall bouquet, a streaming subscriptions or gift cards.
To make a soldier’s Thanksgiving special while they are away from home, comfort them by sending care packages filled with practical, morale-boosting items like gift cards for necessities, snacks to lift their spirits, and entertainment to pass the time. You can also send coffee and seasoning to liven up meals, toiletries to freshen up, decorative touches to brighten their surroundings, and thoughtful handwritten notes to remind them how much their service and sacrifice is appreciated.
While gift-giving is not traditionally the main focus of Thanksgiving celebrations, thoughtful small gifts, especially for hosts or loved ones you won’t see on the holiday, can be a nice gesture of gratitude and appreciation; classic Thanksgiving gift ideas include food items like baked goods, wine, or gourmet ingredients to incorporate in the meal, fall decorations for the table, festive serving dishes or utensils, or simple homemade crafts.
Thanksgiving activities for adults
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