In Lieu of Flowers: A Sympathy Gift Guide
The Sympathy Gift Guide might be the one no wants to use, but everyone needs. We know the traditional standbys when it comes to supporting someone through grief: cards, flowers, and food. We also know that it never feels like enough. Unique sympathy gift ideas aren’t easy to come by, and because loss in life is inevitable, this is one gift guide we need all year. These companies were started by individuals and families who have journeyed in life’s hardest moments, so you can be confident they understand what helps.
Beyond Words Co. care packages:
Beyond Words Co. was started from the founder’s healing journey after discovering infidelity in her marriage and navigating a new life as a single mother. Through her personal journey and learning alongside others grieving a loss in their lives, Catherine launched Beyond Words Co., a company that designs and ships care packages for grieving individuals. She aims to make it easier to offer support to those who need it most.
Beyond Words Co. offers a fresh take on providing comfort to those experiencing grief, loss, or difficult life transitions. The care packages are rooted in practicality and honor self-care for the grieving person. Natural and pure items promote comfort, nourishment, and rest. Items are often made in the USA, responsibly-sourced, organic, and from family and women-owned businesses that give back to their communities. The most frequent reasons Beyond Words Co. ships care packages are death of an adult loved one, pregnancy loss, infant loss, child loss, a new or worsening medical diagnosis, surgery, divorce or a break-up, pet loss, job loss, and other transitions that can sometimes be difficult like welcoming a new baby or moving from a beloved family home.
Here for You care packages:
Co-founders Kellyn Shoecraft & Nate Stell, created Here For You™ Compassion Packages after their own experiences with expected and unexpected loss, short- and long-term illnesses. Those experiences inspired them to change the way people talk about and acknowledge grief, loss, and critical illnesses. Here For You™ delivers practical compassion — a way to show care while also being helpful. Their Compassion Packages range from curated selections of household essentials to customizable collections of self-care items. The packages are tastefully presented, and offer a useful and thoughtful alternative to the customary flower bouquet or fruit basket. When a person is going through a challenging transition in their life, they shouldn't have to worry about running to the store for the odds and ends that keep their household functioning.
Rudolph’s Bluebird Houses:
The Rudolph family needed something to keep their hearts, hands, and minds busy after they lost their beloved wife and mother to cancer in January of 2018. Their family started making and offering bluebird houses out of their grief as thee bluebird was her favorite bird. Four family generations have come together to assist in the building of Rudolph’s Bluebird Houses, turning the pain of their loss into a project they work together on in her memory.
Single Assembled bluebird houses sell for $20, Bluebird Houses mounted to 6 ft steel posts for $25, Unassembled Bluebird House Kits for $15 and mini Rudolph’s Bluebird House ornaments sell for $5 ready to paint and personalize. Shop on their Facebook page.
Spoonful of Comfort:
In October 2007, the founder received the phone call from her mother that she had been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. They lived far away from each other, and the founder wanted to show her how much she cared, and in some way, to comfort her. She immediately thought of chicken soup – as it was what her mother used to make for her and so the idea for Spoonful of Comfort was born. The founder has kept it her goal, in her mother’s honor, to help others with sick loved ones. Spoonful of Comfort gourmet soup sympathy gift baskets help show care.
Teamotions:
This company was started by two sisters after the loss of twin baby girls affected their family. Teamotions was born to help provide a warming, comforting cup of tea that supported emotional health. Rachel and Crystal spent over a year and a half to formulate the tea blends, making sure every ingredient was purposeful, every blend was beautiful, and every sip was therapeutic and delicious. According to Teamotions, their tea blends contain balancing adaptogen herbs and nourishing botanicals making it the first and only line of teas that support emotional well-being.