While fresh flowers are often sent to express your sympathy and condolences, gift baskets can also prove thoughtful and practical. When choosing a gift basket for a family in mourning, it’s important to remember a few important guidelines. Firstly, you want to pay attention to the contents and, secondly, the presentation. You don’t want the basket to appear too bright and cheerful or it could be taken the wrong way. It should rather be neutral in terms of colour and should not suit any particular theme (like Christmas).
As for the contents, you might want to avoid hampers that contain alcohol. Instead, focus on food hampers. Fresh fruit baskets are great because they are colourful like a bunch of flowers and they can also give everyone a healthy nutritional boost. The immune system can take a knock during times of grief which is why it’s so important for the grieving loved ones to get all the vitamins they can.
Another alternative is a hamper filled with sweet and savoury goodies. Look for items that need not be refrigerated or that at least have a reasonable shelf life. Even if the recipients don’t feel the need to eat the contents right away, they can always snack here and there. These snacks are also great for serving to guests. The family might not be up for preparing finger foods and they most likely have not been to the store in a while so sending them a hamper with biscuits, crackers, and similar items will ensure that they have something to put on the table if guests arrive to pay their respects.
Cheese hampers often come with a bottle of wine but there are cheese hampers that are presented with crackers, biscuits, and even paired with fresh fruit. Cheese generally has a long shelf life if refrigerated. In addition, if it remains unopened, it will maintain its texture and flavour perfectly.
Finally, don’t forget about the hamper delivery. If you want to make a personal delivery, have the hamper sent to your address. If, on the other hand, you want to give the family some space during this time, you can have it sent straight to them. This way you are showing your support without forcing them to deal with visitors. Don’t forget to include a note if you are having the hamper sent to the recipient! This way they will know it’s from you.