RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,377 
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Post by RosieKat on Apr 10, 2024 23:52:15 GMT
I volunteer with a group that helps homeless people navigate the system, and of course, I get to know some people better than others. Two of my friends are each getting a tiny home, one tomorrow and one next week. I wanted to get them each a small gift without being obnoxious or expensive or embarrassing. My daughter and I were thinking about a houseplant or an herb plant or something, but that would be really hard to give them without everyone knowing. (It doesn't need to be a "secret" but I don't want it to be super obvious to everyone, either.) I found a cute little trinket dish that says "There is no place like home" and I was thinking maybe that with a small grocery gift card? I thought about cute kitchen supplies but depending on which units they get, they may not even have sinks, and I'm not sure. Or I could just give them a card with an offer to buy something they'd really like up to x amount, but I have a feeling they'd never come back and say "Oh, I'd really love this thing." So, Peas, any bright ideas?
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,832
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Apr 10, 2024 23:56:51 GMT
Sort of like new college students... a laundry basket with some new towels, detergent.. basic cleaning supplies.. small basic tool box...
The gift card n trinket thing is good too...
I would think a small house plant is a sweet idea... but these are people barely relearning to take care of themselves....
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Post by peasapie on Apr 11, 2024 0:05:38 GMT
I’d give something useful. Someone gave us a lovely, soft blanket when we moved in to our home and I still have it.
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Post by bunnyhug on Apr 11, 2024 0:35:24 GMT
My cousin and her husband had close friends lose a house to fire just when they were first married, and so since then, as a wedding and/or house warming gift, my cousin has always given a fire extinguisher. I really appreciated when we got ours, as it's not something that I likely would have thought to get for myself! Another really practical gift along those same lines is a first aid kit or a fire suppressing blanket.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,377
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Post by RosieKat on Apr 11, 2024 1:17:42 GMT
Another really practical gift along those same lines is a first aid kit or a fire suppressing blanket. OMG my DD got to go with me today to the center and she met them and fell in love with them (so to speak). She's the one who's training to be an EMT, so she would be *all over* putting these together! What a fitting idea!!! |
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,732
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Apr 11, 2024 10:23:47 GMT
It's difficult. If their new homes are tiny then you don't want to be clogging it up with pretty "stuff". That's for them to do, haha! And if you don't know what facilities they have, it's quite difficult to get practical things. They may not have a sink? In the kitchen? Do they share communal cooking facilities with others then?
I love the first aid kit idea.
As someone who keeps being given pot plants by friends, and has run out of windowsills and gets angst every time one dies, I wouldn't give a plant.
- trivet
- travel alarm clock
- jug that can double up as a flower vase
- oven gloves
- tea towel/hand towel set
- small chopping board (my friend hand-made one for me for my first house nearly 40 years ago and I still use it)
- cafetière for one/two
- phone/tablet holder
- a really good, sharp pair of scissors
I'll keep thinking...
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SweetieBsMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,600
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Apr 11, 2024 12:45:05 GMT
Great ideas. I think gifting items they can use, that they don't have to go out and spend money on, is a great idea. The fire extinguisher/suppression blanket is a good idea (I have both....daughter of a firefighter  ). Maybe some cleaning supplies, those are always expensive, paper goods. I also like the thought of a grocery gift card because groceries are so expensive right now. Putting items in a laundry basket is a great idea. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Apr 11, 2024 14:34:44 GMT
I was thinking along the lines of a basket of like Mrs. Meyer's products or similar. Something that is useful and cute put together.. Or a mix of Scrub Daddy stuff..
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Apr 11, 2024 15:10:37 GMT
Gift card to the grocery store.
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Post by ~summer~ on Apr 11, 2024 15:31:46 GMT
Grocery store gift card.
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Post by littlemama on Apr 11, 2024 15:34:40 GMT
Either a grocery store gift card or maube a selection of the important, but annoying expensive things you need to start with- spices, foil, plastic wrap, ziploc bags, etc.
I do have a question- you stated that one of the homes doesnt have a sink? How is that possible?
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Post by kamper on Apr 12, 2024 2:21:13 GMT
I volunteered for many years at a charity that assisted with basic needs and served on the board for a time. I would caution you against giving 'gifts' to a client of the organization. I know your heart is in the right place. Your time spent volunteering is a gift. However, as a volunteer you are seen as part of the organization/charity and giving gifts (Donations) to one client that you have become close with could be seen as favoritism or discrimination. We had a very kind hearted individual who donated personally to a client they had contact with and it almost came back to bite us in terms of negative publicity. This could have meant lost grants. After that all volunteers were made to sign a pledge not to donate/gift directly to any client.
I would suggest that you organize a fund raiser to gift ALL client moving into homes with a simple house warming gift.
I don't mean to be negative because, any organization that is helping people move into homes is awesome.
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Post by Zee on Apr 12, 2024 17:06:45 GMT
I'm having a hard time moving past "no sink".
How do they clean properly, themselves or their surroundings, without running water? I can't believe that's even allowed by codes. Toilet? Is it just a separate shelter with shared facilities to bathe and clean? Is it more like a tiny shelter rather than a tiny house? Like a better version of a tent? Do they get refrigerators and stoves?
Sorry--I just have so many questions!
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Post by hop2 on Apr 12, 2024 18:54:14 GMT
They have a tiny home I’d go with a heartfelt card with a gift card inside. Therefore I’m not giving them something they don’t need in that tiny home.
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). Maybe some cleaning supplies, those are always expensive, paper goods. I also like the thought of a grocery gift card because groceries are so expensive right now. 
