Care Packages for UNF students

Who doesn’t enjoy getting a package delivered?

We know you really care, you care a lot about your student and want them to be happy. Whether it is for a birthday, a little something to ease the stress of midterms or finals, a pick me up when they are feeling sick, holiday treats, or congratulations on a job well done; there are many options that will surely bring a smile to your student’s face. Sometimes it is nice to go with the local shops; most all deliver. Then again, there are some excellent national choices too. We have given you plenty to choose from– all of which our kids, interns, or we like. All you have to do now is decide what to send. There is variety there too. For instance; if you are looking for sweets (and who isn’t?) for a birthday, pick me up, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, religious holidays, or just because… If I couldn’t celebrate with them, at least they knew I was thinking of them. And, don’t forget the decorations… we love this Birthday in a Bag filled with confetti, card, balloons, candles, and a party horn.

Where to start? A great parting care package gift that you can leave in their room or send as a package is this package of Open When College Pack envelopes. We suggest filling them with either a message, picture, or gift cards purchased in advance but we love the messages. When you take your first big test when you’re sick when you’re tired of dorm food, and more. The perfect way to express that you care.

Locally we recommend:

Note: GF or V indicates gluten-free and vegan are available.

• Charmed Cakes does custom cakes for any occasion, and is located only 15 minutes from campus.
• Debbie’s Doodle’s Cookie Company – they ship from South Florida right to your student and offer delicious, homemade chocolate-chip and brown sugar butter cookies. (And her daughter is a UNF student)
• Flippin’ Good Cookies – Fantastic cookies that can be delivered to UNF or nationwide if desired.  Small delivery fee.
• Frosted by Darla creates cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cake pops, and more, located less than 5 minutes away from campus.
• Hudson Cookie Co – Delicious and beautiful cookies for any occasion. Delivery available with a small fee.
• Nothing Bundt Cakes – they deliver to the UNF campus for a small delivery fee.  Nothing Bundt Cakes will deliver the most delicious mini bundt cakes called Bundtinis.  They come in a variety of flavors and are DELICIOUS!
• Sweets By Holly – Cupcakes and mini cupcakes!  There is a delivery fee however they will deliver as many or as few cupcakes as requested.
• You can also have a cake, cookies, or cupcakes delivered by Publix through Instacart or Shipt.  Read our blog on delivery companies to see what else you can have sent.

National and delicious options include:

• Bake Me A Wish. If you’re looking for a full catalog of desserts to choose from, this is where you should start! Bake Me a Wish has cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, and more – all for a reasonable price! Plus, you can personalize your selection with any message you wish (see what we did there)? GF
• Baked by Melissa – If you’ve ever been to New York, you know the name Baked by Melissa. These are tiny cupcakes that come in assorted flavors including cookie dough, red velvet, brownie, and more! You can get a box of 25 or up to 100 and send it directly to your student for any occasion! These are available for purchase through their website or on Amazon. Trust us, these are always a hit and they taste delicious! GF, V
• Debbie’s Doodle’s Cookie Company – They ship from South Florida right to your student and offer delicious, homemade chocolate-chip and brown sugar butter cookies. They come delivered in dry ice and then a birthday box with a card, that shows you care! From the presentation to the cake itself, it was seamless and delicious.
• Milk Bar Store – Don’t be fooled by the company name – Milk Bar offers some of the best cakes we’ve ever tasted! Think a Funfetti boxed cake that your student likely baked from time to time, but SO much better! They also have cookies, truffles, and pies – and anything you choose is going to have you eating the whole thing, it’s THAT good!
• The Dirty Cookie – Have you seen the famous cookie shots? If not, think of a cookie, but shaped in the form of a shot glass. You can fill it with milk, coffee, ice cream, or alcohol (21+), and you can pick a cookie shot in several different flavors! Is there a better way to celebrate your birthday, the end of an exam, or just making it through another week of quarantine? The answer is, OF COURSE NOT! Use code HUH15 for 15% off your purchase and enjoy it!
• Wicked Good Cupcakes – GF Our personal favorite is the Wicked Good Cupcakes Birthday Box. I sent these to my daughter last year and she loved them. Just make sure you get enough for their roommates. If we’re going by the name, you know these are going to be wicked good! These desserts come in a festive box filled with cupcakes in a small jar, plus birthday décor and candles if they’re celebrating a birthday. You can pick different sized boxes based on your budget. Plus, these last for at least 10 days without being refrigerated or your student can freeze them for up to 6 months (even though we know they’ll be devoured as soon as they open the box).

Still sweet…

• Edible Arrangements If you are thinking something more along the lines of fresh fruit (and because who doesn’t like sweets, said no one ever), then Edible Arrangements is the way to go. From their traditional fruit bouquets to their fruit platters, the best gifts are Edible.® They even have strawberries dipped in cake batter and rolled in mini sequin sprinkles, miniature cakes made with fresh pineapple and dipped in white chocolate or you can create your own box.

They will think this is sweet too…

• Drizly – For students who are 21+ then parents can order any type of alcohol, mixer, and even energy drinks

Flowers and Plants

Maybe flowers (or a cool plant) are something your Birthday Osprey would prefer. Even better, combine balloons with flowers! Many florists – like most of these – deliver balloons as well. Locally we like:

• Flowers of Jacksonville
• Kuhn Flowers
• Publix has a floral department AND they will deliver. You can order flowers and balloons delivered by Instacart or Shipt.

Nationally, here are some of our tried and true favorites

• Bouqs – These beautiful flowers come from eco-friendly farms that use sustainable growing practices, which means longer lasting flowers and no middlemen. You can buy individually or start a subscription.

Balloons are always fun. Many florists will attach balloons to an arrangement or send a bouquet of balloons separately. Locally you can get them from…

• Balloons and Events Construction Company
• Nationally these places send great balloons too:
• GiftBlooms.com

Yes, Soup For You!

Soup can be nice when they’re feeling under the weather. Locally, you can get soup sent from:

• Panera
• Wok N Roll
• Zoës Kitchen

There are also national options:

• GrandmasChickenSoup
• Spoonful of Comfort
• Challah Connection

If there is a favorite restaurant or grocery store that your student would be oh-so-happy to receive a special delivery from, you should check out our Deliveries blog. You’ll find some great local places and delivery options.

More Care Gift Ideas

We understand that there are other things that are nice to receive other than food and flowers. One of my daughter’s favorites was when I sent her the comfiest sweats she ever owned. (Yes, I too now have a set or two.)

• Have you ever slipped into Lou & Gray sweatsuit? It’s perfect study-for-exams attire. Here are some other national companies that have some great options to bring a smile to your student’s face.
• Darden Restaurant e-gift card or a physical card – Olive Garden, Yard House, Cheddar’s, Bahama Breeze, Longhorn Steakhouse, and Red Lobster.
• Greetabl – this is great when you want to send something small, thoughtful, and personalized.
• Knackshops– They offer some great college care packages or you can make your own.
• Lovepop – don’t forget the card. They have some really fun cards for birthdays, Halloween, Get Well, Graduation, and Just Because. They even have sticker pops and gift tag pops.
• Mouth – great for care packages for birthdays, wellness in a box, get better, exams.
• Cameo – This is a really fun way to indulge your celebrity-obsessed friends. Arrange for a personalized message from their favorite celebrity, whether it’s an actor, athlete, musician, reality tv star, or creator. You can arrange for them to get a personalized message from their favorite person. Depending on the person, prices vary.
• Our Campus Market – choose from healthy to gourmet for birthdays, move-in, Trick or Treat, Just Because, and more. Kosher, gluten-free, and vegan packages available – You can even include a gift card to one of their favorite places.

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