Exam Care Packages - Unique Gifter

Exam Care Packages

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Exam college care packages are a fairly well-covered topic on ye-olde internet, however I’d like to share my own experience with these, because it is just so, so fun and happy.

My college student would be SO HAPPY to receive an awesome exam care package. Love these ideas.

My local church sends out care packages before spring exams to our post-secondary students.  Before exam time, they compile a list of the two dozen or so students who call the church home.

Then, they put out a call for people to bring things for the boxes, enough for each box to get one.  You can drop things off in advance, or bring them on the box assembly day.  It’s usually a Friday or a Saturday morning, with coffee, snacks, and lots of laughs.  I have only been able to make it once, but it was oh so much fun.

After the exam care packages have arrived in the dorm rooms and apartments of the students, people grab screenshots of the happy Facebook status updates (with the person’s name and photo blurred out), or snippets of emails home.  Then, they are turned into a slideshow and presented to the whole church, so folks can ooh and ahh, and smile about all the joy these simple care packages bring into the lives of the students.

The students’ reactions are overwhelmingly positive and full of fun, I absolutely love seeing them.  I mean, what’s not to love, seeing a whole bunch of happy stories!

What I Put in Exam College Care Packages

What did I give this year?  Cans of Play Doh!.  There was  a huge bin at the grocery store and I loaded up :-)  Also a big box of microwave popcorn.  I am sure that they were well received.  This  year there were 19 care packages, so cost become a bit of a concern.  Spending $2 per student turns into $38 very quickly. If you are only making one or two, you can probably splash out for a few items that cost more than a dollar!

What did I want to give this year?  Lip Balm.  There was a bulk pack of Disney princess lip chap, but unfortunately my choices were the good ($2-3+ each) kinds, or the ridiculously over gendered kinds.  By over gendered, I mean extremely girly.  So, no lip balm for the college care packages!

Another year, I gave mini Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle bubbles.  You KNOW those are amazing.  Amazing.

Pro tip: Use snack size ziploc bags to make sure liquids don’t explode all over.

The Most Popular Item

What is the most popular, weird thing in the packages every year?  The local newspaper’s Police Report.  It’s always good for a laugh and definitely reminds you of home.  When you’re in the city, the police reports do not talk about bears in sheds or moose charging school children!

As I have mentioned before, I really love Random Acts of Kindness and sending things to your old student house is a great and easy way to do one.  Depending on the time of year and the year of school that your recipient is attending, you may want to alter your ideas so that you are not shipping a bunch of “stuff” that will require packing up and disposing/moving very shortly after it arrives.  In that case, it is probably best to stick to small, lightweight things and consumable things.

As much as terrible snack foods can be delicious, when you are trying to stuff as much as possible into your noggin, it is probably best to avoid sugar highs and crashes and other crap-food negatives.  Stick to relatively healthy snacks foods, vitamins and beverages for your care package.  Maybe add in a few of your amazing homemade cookies or brownies, or if you’re Kathleen from Frugal Portland, some caramels!

Exam Care Package Ideas

Snacks

Beef Jerky

Cliff Bars

Luna Bars

Pudding Cups

Nuts

Dried Fruit – MangoBanana ChipsApricotsRaisins

Fruit Cups

Trail Mix

Candy Canes –  at Christmas time!

Homemade Baking

Microwave Popcorn

Corn Chips

Pretzels

Potato Chips

Candy Bars – That’s Chocolate Bars in Canadian

Chocolate Bars

Granola Bars

Buy from Amazon

Tic Tacs

Gum

Double Bubble

Altoids

Mentos

Mints

Candy

Starburst

Seaweed Snacks

Sesame Snacks

Goldfish Crackers

Pocky

Protein Bars

Party Mix

Crackers

Nutella

Rice Cakes

Rice Krispie Bars

Salsa

Tuna to Go

Craisins

Biscotti

Fudge

Pringles

Jelly Beans

Gummy Bears

Yogurt Covered Raisins

Spitz

Applesauce

Animal Crackers

Fruit Loops

Mini Eggs

Marshmallows

Protein Powder

Ice Cream Toppings

Beverages

Coffee

Instant Coffee

Caffeine Free Tea – for late nights!

Hot Chocolate Packets

Energy Drink

Mio

Nuun

Crystal Light

Starbucks Frappuccino

Lemonade Mix

Koolaid

K Cups

Juice Boxes

Gatorade Powder

Coffee Creamer

Tang

Iced Tea Mix

Nesquik

“Meals” & Things for Students with Kitchens

Easy Mac

Ramen Noodles

Instant Oatmeal

Soup

Pancake Mix

Syrup

Muffin Mix

Ghirardelli Chocolate

Pork and Beans

Peanut Butter

Spices

White Rice

Quaker Natural Granola Oats

Ravioli

Spaghetti

Salad Dressing

Fun & Funky Ideas

Stickers

Comics Super Heroes

Comics

Hot Sauce

Bacon

Christmas Light

Desk Calendar

Postcards

Comics

Easter Bunny

Gazillion Solution

Magazine

Latex Balloons

Bathroom Odor Spray

Toys

Nerf Super Soaker

Silly Putty

Silly String

Play Doh

Bottle Opener Keychain

Electronics Cleaning Putty

Hand Warmers

Magnetic Poetry

Mini Lego

Thumb Tacks

Rubik’s Cube

Glow Sticks

Moleskine Journal

Bananagrams

Deck of Cards

Frisbee

Hot Wheels Car

Eraser Car

Magic 8 Ball

Mug Warmer

Face Paint
– in school colours!

Astronaut Ice Cream

Chia Pet

Bop It

Cards Against Humanity

Exploding Kittens

Poker Chips

Mad Libs

Travel Scrabble

Travel Cribbage

Catch Phrase

Ring Pop

Yo-yo

Kite

Fun Magnets
– for the fridge

Instagram Photo Printer

Advent Calendar

Adult Coloring Book

Crayons

Temporary Tattoos

Hacky Sack

Slackline

Sudoku Book

Crossword Puzzles

Fiction Book

New Headphones

Scented Candle

Personal Care Items

Nail Clippers

Nail Polish

Hair Elastics

Lip Chap

Lotion

Soap

Shampoo & Conditioner

Deodorant

Nail File

Hand Sanitizer

Toothpaste

Toothbrush

Shaving Cream

Face Wash

Facecloth

Makeup

Mascara

Shower Shoes

Contact Lens Solution

Glasses Cleaning Kit

 

Socks

Listerine Pocket Packs

Hair Gel

Razor Blades

Perfume/Cologne Sample

Kleenex

Cold Medicine

Allergy Medicine

Advil

Tylenol

Cough Drops

Condoms

Vitamins

Q Tips

Dental Floss

Tums

Pumice Stone

Feminine Hygiene Items

Funny Bandaids

Foot Massager

Face Mask

Sleep Mask

Sunscreen

Hair Brush

Hot/Cold Pack

Study Stuff

Post Its

Highlighters

Nice Pens

Flash Cards

Erasers

White Out Tape

Notebooks

Printer Cartridges

Fun Paper Clips

Binder Clips

Scotch Tape

Mini Stapler

Scissors

USB Drive

External Hard Drive

Dry Erase Markers

Pencil Crayons

 

Gift Cards

CASH – everyone likes this stuff.  Everyone.

iTunes

Starbucks

Grocery Store

Subway

Panera

Chipotle

Target

http://www.walmart.com/

Phone Credit

Visa

Movie Theatre

Handy Household Stuff

Laundry Money

Laundry Detergent

Fabric Softener

Napkins

Dishcloth

Air Freshener

Tide Pen

Mr.Clean Eraser

Hydroflask

Postage Stamp

Thank You Cards

Mini First Aid Kit

Laptop Case

Phone Case

Quick Cookbook

Diffuser

Storage Containers

Lunch Containers

Spork

Chopsticks

Straws

Febreze

Reusable Grocery Bag

Fleece Blanket

Reusable Coffee Mug Sleeve

Mini Whiteboard

Lysol Wipes

Inflatable Furniture

Holiday Window Clings

Mesh Laundry Bag

Swiffer Duster

Wool Dryer Ball

Picture Frame

Hot Water Bottle

Calendar

Flashlight

Rechargeable Batteries

Poster Tape

Sticky Tack

Command Hooks

Multitool

Duct Tape

Kitchen Knife

Chip Clips

Cord Organizers

Portable iPhone Speakers

 

Nice Care Package Touches

Notes from Home

Photo Album

Hometown Newspaper or Announcements

Letters & Drawings from friends and family

Journal

Clothing & Such

Pajama Pants

Gloves

Scarf

Hat

Toque

Gym Shorts

Jewelry

Watch

Slippers

School Sweater

Hand Warmers

Sunglasses

Swimsuit

Halloween Costume

St.Patrick’s Day Shirt

Valentine’s Day Shirt

Seasonal Socks – ie Christmas

Shoelaces

Undershirts

 

(Alternatively, buy a care package directly from Amazon.)

Need more content ideas?  Here are plenty more.

Dormify – Gifts & Kits

Over Fifty Care Package Ideas for College Students

Huge Review of Care Package Companies!

Have you ever received an exam study kit? What was your favourite item?

 

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