Six Alternative Sympathy Gifts To Give Instead Of Flowers

Seeing a friend go through the grief of losing a loved one can be difficult. During this period, it’s customary to provide a small sympathy gift, to show your condolences. Typically, this will be flowers. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are some other touching sympathy gifts you can consider.

Charitable Donation

Some families might decide to request you donate to a charity, instead of providing flowers. This can be a gift way of honoring a cause that a loved one was passionate about. The funeral director can provide details of the charity the family wishes to support.

Gift Cards For Groceries

Sadly, funerals can be expensive. Because of this, giving a grocery voucher can help you ease some of the financial burdens that your friend might be experiencing.
Alternatively, they might be struggling to find the time or energy to shop for themselves. You might want to offer to purchase some basics for them. Even better, you can bring a home-cooked meal.

Helping Around The House

Organizing a funeral can be a big task, with lots of elements to consider. Because of this, you might want to offer to help out around the house during this period. There are lots of small jobs that someone in mourning might overlook. For example, you can offer to clean the dishes or take the dog for a walk.
If they have children, you can offer to look after them for a few days. This allows your friend to focus on processing the loss.

Weighted Blanket

A weighted blanket is a great way of lowering stress, replicating a warm hug from a friend. There are many types of weighted blankets to choose from. Pick one in your friend’s favorite color.
There are a few other ways that you can help those in mourning cope with the stress. For example, you might want to gift a scented candle. If you want to take this one step further, you can engrave it with a message of condolence.

Distracting Gifts

Sometimes, those going through mourning will want to have something to distract themselves from the grief, if only for a few moments. There are a few types of presents that you can use to do this. For example, you might want to consider an adult coloring book or a gardening kit. Sometimes, they will appreciate some arts and crafts, like knitting kits.
If purchasing for a family, you can give a board game. This is a chance for them to spend some time together.

Memorial Keepsake

Sometimes, you might want to gift a memorial keepsake. This is a touching way for them to keep the memories of their loved ones alive. There are a few ways you can do this. For example, you might want to give a bracelet engraved with their loved one’s name. You can also get a photo album, filled with some of their most precious memories, a memorial book is also a good option. Another option is to name a star after their loved one.

Conclusion

Going through the grief of losing someone will be difficult. During this hard time, a small sympathy gift and a few kind words from a friend can make a huge difference. Hopefully, these condolence gifts can provide some comfort and hope.