Meaningful Items During a Difficult Time

ADINA BAILEY

Recently, a friend of our site, Ruth Newquist, shared the following with us:

"My husband died 6 years ago. I appreciated everything people did for me. But..... I had lots of paper products and lots of fried chicken. Someone in my husband's office lost her husband two years earlier, so she brought what helped her- stamps. I used the stamps for thank you notes."

We thought giving stamps was such a thoughtful idea that it made us curious as to what other meaningful items people have received during difficult times. Here are some inspiring suggestions from our users:

Food items you can take along:

Uncooked pasta
Teabags/coffee
Breakfast items (bagels/cream cheese, yogurt, granola)
Lunch items for children
Special drinks (i.e. apple cider, juice, etc.)
Basket of healthy snacks
Breakfast bars
Mints

Non-food items you can take along:

Toiletries (hand soaps, lotions, lip gloss/chapstick etc.)
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Plastic storage containers
Ziploc bags
Paper plates
Disposable containers (to transfer meals and send dishes home with meal provider)
Garbage bags
Diapers/wipes
Cleaning supplies
Tissues
Treats for family pets

Services you can offer:

Send an encouraging note
Mow their lawn *
Maid service/cleaning *
Rake their yard
Snow removal
Pet sitting
Rides
Extra freezer space for food gifts
Clean up after dinner, clean kitchen
House sit during funeral and clean while family is out of the house
Greet visitors
Plan a birthday party if a child in the family has a birthday during the difficult time *
Laundry (pick it up and deliver it clean/folded)
Childcare
Take a packed lunch to the hospital for loved ones who do not want to leave
Time for anything that's needed

Gifts you can deliver or send

Stamps
Blank cards
Gift cards for Target
Gift cards for Lowes
Gas gift cards *
Gift card to hospital parking garage
Gift certificates for restaurants near to home or hospital
Toys for the children that travel well (coloring books, crayons, etc.)
Soothing candle
Magazines
Rolls of coins (for vending machines at hospital)
Gift card to local nursery
Plant to remind family of loved one

Gifts for later

In the weeks and months that follow: visit, sit and listen
Let them know you haven't forgotten
Send encouraging notes
Give hugs

* These ways to help were a favorite of many of our users

If you have additional items for the list, please send them to us through a comment on this post or post it on our Facebook page. We will add them to the list.

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Welcome! We're thrilled you stopped by. A well-timed meal delivered by a friend is one of the best gifts imaginable. In this space, we share our favorite recipes, meal-taking tips, and other ways to care for those who are dear to you.

You can find our popular You Are Loved spoons in our Gifts & Such store.