My husband passed away in August...
We got (too) many fruit baskets.
I liked one with some fruit and cheese and the edible fruit arrangements.
Gift Certificate to our favorite mexican restaurant...we could Doordash that
I would actually suggest sending a card now, but then send some food later as it is nice to get something after the initial rush is over (or do both)
Bopper, I'm so sorry for your loss, I can't imagine what you are going through right now. When my best friend's mom died, she did say, several months later that the edible arrangement was the food item the family appreciated the most, I think in part because it was so easy to eat without being overwhelming. I like the idea of a gift card to a restaurant where they can order delivery (or takeout)
One of our friends drops off toilet paper, paper towels, coffee, maybe milk, etc. -- things that can run out quickly at such times, especially if there are people visiting, so no one needs to run to the store, and that they will use eventually anyway even if they don't need it now.
Gellchom, thank you, this is a great idea and feeds my deep-seated need to *do* something. I've got a decent stash of hand sanitizer and things that are still a bit hard to find in my area that I'm sure would be appreciated if they are spending more time out of the house with funeral arrangements and things like that.
(
Pro-Tip for people still in need of supplies or looking to re-up for winter - I was able to use a restaurant supply store website and ordered hand sanitizer, face masks and staples like a 24 case of tomato paste when none of those things were available in stores - the tomato paste was 1/2 of what it normally is in the store and will last us at least a year)
Following with interest. In very nearly the same situation
My younger brother lost his wife last week. She was an only child, who had one child by an earlier marriage. Brother and stepson were at her bed, she died at home on hospice care.
Due to location, nobody lives close, no one can travel to his area, and they were not church members...so very limited social circle (cancer diagnosis had her retiring early, and concentrating on medical matters). He was either with her or at work...
I know that some money has been sent...but I have my own hands full with a husband in recovery from cancer treatment last year...and life in 2020 is not what it was last year...I want to do the right thing...but I can't figure out the right thing in this complicated year.
VorFemme, I'm so sorry for your families loss - my aunt's husband died early this summer (not covid related) and she was in a similar situation, they had moved fora temporary placement for her job not terribly long before it happened and she was basically stranded in an unknown city by herself. She has since been able to transfer back to a city where they lived for many years and is surrounded by friends which has helped a lot.
I hope your husband is recovering nicely, my dad had 2 *very* unexpected heart surgeries in September and I've spent the last 6 weeks in despair because I can't go visit/help my mom with his recovery. He's doing much better, but I'm a *doer* and all this sitting around doing *nothing* is really getting to me. 2020 has just been awful in terms of making everyone feel helpless. I feel really blessed that I got to see most of my family at the tail end of February - they came down to help me celebrate a milestone birthday and at the time I was a little overwhelmed by how much we celebrated (I'm a huge introvert and we went out 5 times in one weekend!! with various family members and family friends with little "recovery time" in between) but now all these months later it's a huge comfort especially knowing that it will probably be a "zoom holiday" this year.
Thank you everyone for the advice and for sharing your stories and similar experiences.