Send a unique self care hamper to express deepest sympathies or provide comfort and support to friends, family or business connections during tough times e.g. for recovering from illness or surgery or for the grief of experiencing a loss, or just to show appreciation.
For a get well soon gift hamper or care package, send the gift as soon after hearing the news as possible, and consider practical soothing items like cozy socks, candles, and a blanket as a symbol of protection in in South Africa, and comforting food or drink.
Get well gift hampers for him
For a get well soon gift include comforting gifts to help him relax and recover, get inspired by our Get Well Gift for Him or consider making your own sympathy gift for him with:
- Cozy care gifts – quality bamboo or cotton socks, grooming items like body wash.
- Food and drinks – Invigorating gourmet coffee– a with biscuits and chocolate or savoury snacks such as nuts.
- Personalized items – a photo frame or his favourite treats and essentials.
- Distraction – hobby books, magazines, playing cards, or a movie night box.
- Practical recovery-time gifts and gadgets – water bottle, power bank.
Get well soon gifts for her
For a get well soon gift package for her, get inspired by Megs custom self-care gift basket, or to make your own consider combining thoughtful consoling wellness gifts that show you care:
- Self-care pamper hamper gifts such as a soft throw or pashmina, eye mask, scented candle, fuzzy slippers, and soothing bath and body items like bath bombs, bath salts or bubble bath, natural soap, quality body lotion, hand cream and lip balm. In summer, a mini fan or mobile mister to stay cool, or in Winter a hot water bottle or fluffy throw.
- Sympathy gift basket filled with gourmet food and drinks – soothing herbal tea and honey, nougat, dried fruit, shortbread, chocolate and her personal favourite snacks and treats.
- Healing or distracting journal and pretty pen, books, crossword or mindful colouring books for adults with quality pencils(lead to next article pamper for her).
- An airplant, gardening kit or seed paper can be included in a care hamper.
Care package for a family to share
A sympathy gift care package for a family in South Africa can include easy-to-share items such as:
- A quality clean-burning aromatherapy candle with wooden wick, or room diffuser.
- Edible soothing treats such as calming teas and nut variety packs (check for nut allergies), box of individually wrapped nougats or chocolates, cookies, gourmet popcorn, dried fruit.
- Activity supplies if they have children.
- Meal delivery vouchers.
- If they experienced a loss in the family, donating to a charity in honour of the deceased memory, such planting a tree in their name, or to a cause that was dear to them.
Corporate Condolence Hampers
To express sympathy and support while maintaining a professional and respectful tone, avoid overly personal items and send only high quality gifts:
- Gourmet food – biscuits, chocolates, and nuts (check for allergies)
- Premium tea or coffee gift baskets to provide warm comfort
- Self-care journals, with high quality pens
- Add a candle or drinkware such as an insulated tumbler
How to Create your own Sympathy Gift basket
- Choose your gift theme (a soothing pamper hamper, or a nourishing gourmet gift set, etc.) from the care hamper gift ideas above.
- Choose a basket or container that will be large enough to hold your chosen gifts – a woven basket or fruit bowl works well and can be part of the gift set (or buy an empty gift box if you find arranging the gifts in an open container too finicky).
- Layer the taller gifts at the back, shorter gifts in the front so that each gift is visible from the front (you can also layer the bottom of the basket / bowl with paper if some gifts need elevation).
- Finish your hamper by wrapping the gift in cellophane (or better yet, more eco-friendly alternatives like reusable fine mesh fabric), add a bow or tie with ribbon, and your handwritten card for a personal touch.
What to write on a sympathy gift card?
Finding words to express sympathy can be very difficult. Often we plan out a message of support, then redo and redo, not knowing the right words to say. But a handwritten card conveying condolences adds a personal touch and is often the most appreciated part of the gift.
- Acknowledge the loss or challenge, express support and send heartfelt concise condolences.
- Validate their grief ( I am so sorry for xyz / thinking of you during this difficult time), you are going through, and you can also share a positive memory.
- Don’t ASK if you can do anything for them, just do the help you’re offering! Want to send them a home cooked frozen meal or high quality hearty soup? Deliver it to them. Offering to run an errand for them? Just do it – mow the lawn, help with the cleaning, take care of the children, pick up groceries or whatever needs to be collected.
- Keep the messages short, warm, sincere, and stay focused on providing support.
- Sign off “with love”, or “thinking of you”.
What to avoid saying: “At least they lived long life”, or “they’re in a better place”, and also not “I know how you feel”.
Get more help with choosing get well and sympathy gifts, or buy a gift hamper for him, or gift set for her, pamper body and bath hampers, or gourmet food hampers from our online shop