Pamenr College Students: Handle With Care (NAPSA)—Forcollege students living in dorms and facing hours of reading, writing and prepping for exams, home canfeel very far away. Sending a small piece of home in the form of a care package is one way to bridge the gap. Historically, college students have delighted over a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies, but there are many othercreative and fun ways to impress hardworking students. A roll of quarters for laundry or vending machines; a book of stamps to send letters and bills; prepaid phone cards for phone calls home; or gift certificates to movie theaters, restaurants or convenience stores make good gifts anytime of the year. Care packages also can be tied to special occasions such as birthdays, final exams, Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s Day. Creating packages around themes or sending a package from someone unexpected such as a pet or long-time neighbor also will resonate with students. Some good ideas for care packages include: * A Night at the Movies— Package popular movies or gift certificates for movie rentals with microwave popcorn, soda and candy. * A Hankering for Home— Some homemadetreats, a family picture and a copy of the local newspaper are perfect reminders of home. Also include a Sprint Prepaid PhoneCard so your homesick student can call friends and family anytime. * Just What the Doctor Ordered—When Mom can’t be there to act as the bedside nurse, send cough syrup, vapor rub, instant chicken soup, saltine crackers, tissues and some pain A care package can be a great way to help a college student adjustto life away from home. relief medicine. * Facing Final Exams—To satisfy the late-night cravings final exams inevitably bring, have gourmet coffee, a favorite soda, instant noodles, chocolate candy bars and energy bars delivered. A fresh supply of highlighters, pens and notebooks also will be useful. * Capturing Cupid—In honor of St. Valentine, send some heartshaped candy or chocolate along with a card. Step it up a notch by having a bouquet of flowers or a houseplant delivered. “Care packages are a great way to keep the lines of communication open with students,” said Kelly Carnago, director of prepaid sales and marketing at Sprint. “Including a Sprint Prepaid PhoneCard reinforces the idea that home is just a phone call away.” Whether packages are sent on a whim, or planned out and sent as a holiday gift, they will be a much-appreciated reminder of home.
