Sympathy gifts for bereaved neighbour

Being a good neighbor means that you show your support through thick and thin. Especially when your neighbor experiences a loss of life in their family. There is so much you can do to show your support and offer your care.

Here are 4 sympathy gifts that you can give to offer your condolences.

Cookie gift baskets

When someone is grieving the best way to show your support is by giving them their space. Instead of always being there and offering them words of advice, it is better to let them be alone and process all that has happened with them. This does not mean that you should be aloof to them. In the meantime, when you come to know of the death, you can send out a cookie gift basket with a handwritten note to show your support and offer your immediate commiserations.

Chocolate brownies

Food is the best way to show you care and express your sympathies. It is also a very traditional gift given during such times. Also during these times people do not feel like eating and skip meals as a part of the grieving process, which is harmful to their health. Be a good neighbor by baking them some chocolate brownies, a tray of lasagna or sending over some sandwiches from time to time.

Flowers

Flowers are the most common sympathy gifts that are sent across to bereaved people. But since flowers have such a short shelf life and managing so many bouquets can prove to be cumbersome, many bereaved families opt for the ‘in lieu’ of flowers way. That does not mean that they be deprived of the beauty of flowers. You can easily gift them a flower bonsai that they can plant in their garden or even bring them an indoor plant.

Prayer meet

Your bereaved neighbor will be surrounded by friends and family for the initial few days. It is best to give them time with their relatives and friends. Being surrounded by these people will help your neighbor grieve. However, the toughest times are when all the guests leave. So you can be a good neighbor by offering to organize a small prayer meet or condolence meet in the neighborhood at your house a few weeks after the death. It is best that you inform your neighbor that you would like to organize such a meet and that other neighbors are willing to come and show their support.

Make cookie gift baskets last longer

Sweet treats and most home baked cookies, brownies and cakes take less time to disappear than to prepare. The problem arises when you have to store them for a longer time, what if you wish to include them in a thank you gift baskets for someone? You don’t want all the effort and love put into it to go waste.

thank you gift baskets

Here are few helpful tricks to ensure the lucky recipient gets your sweet treats just the way you want them to.

Cookies

Cookies can be easily stored at room temperature in an air-tight container for 2-3 days. The trick here is to keep a slice of bread in the container to maintain the moisture content of the cookies. The humidity and climate of where you live also makes a difference. Those living in a city with a dry climate should store cookies in a jar with a loose-fitting lid, whereas those living in a humid climate should cover them tightly.

cookie gift baskets

Cakes

Unfrosted cakes can last up to a week if wrapped in plastic wrap or covered in foil. The trick is to cool the cake completely before wrapping it.  First cool it in the pan and once you are able to touch it with your fingers, remove it from the pan and let it cool again on the wire rack.

Brownies

Similar to cakes, allow your favorite chocolate brownies to first cool completely before storing it in an air-tight container. Wrap these cooled and cut brownies in 2-3 layers of plastic wrap or store them in an air-tight container. Keep them in the freezer if you want to enjoy it for a longer period of time, they can last up to 3 months in the freezer!

chocolate brownies

Fudge

To retain the moisture of the fudge first cut them into pieces and then wrap them in wax paper and then in foil. Now place the wrapped fudge inside an air-tight container for extra protection. This prevents the fudge from becoming dry and crumbly.

Make sure you store all these sweet treats in the freezer and not the refrigerator when saving them for consuming at home. Alternatively, you can purchase delicious cookie gift baskets online to avoid the hassle of storing them. Baked goods purchased online are wrapped beautifully and in a way that they remain fresh for many days after reaching the recipient.