DawnM Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 My friend is taking some food items, etc....to a family (I think about 8 of them) who have a 2 year old in ICU. She was one of the kids who ate at the Fair here in NC and contracted E-coli. Thankfully she is doing well and it looks like she will recover. But what could I contribute for them to snack on or eat while they are there for hours on end? I don't have much time and it would be BEST for me to just pick something up already made, but I don't know if that is appropriate or not. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Instead of food, I'd do change for the snack machines and gift cards to restaurants close by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Instead of food, I'd do change for the snack machines and gift cards to restaurants close by. :iagree: Many places will deliver to hospitals that do not deliver to homes, so I would call around to businesses who are willing to deliver and get gift cards. Pizza is fairly cheap and feeds a lot of people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I have had to spend a lot of time at hospitals and I hate the snack machines. People have often brought us subs which we liked to get. A sandwich tray would be a good idea, people could then just eat when they wanted to with no fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Instead of food, I'd do change for the snack machines and gift cards to restaurants close by. :iagree: Ds was admitted twice in about two months as an infant. I spent a fortune at the in-house Au Bon Pain. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 But that I would have to do tomorrow, a day old sandwich tray would not be good. Dawn I have had to spend a lot of time at hospitals and I hate the snack machines. People have often brought us subs which we liked to get. A sandwich tray would be a good idea, people could then just eat when they wanted to with no fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Hmmm......I will need to think on that. The hospital is in Downtown and I am not familiar with what is close by. The family is from the West Coast and just moved to a town 2 hours away for a job. They don't know this area at all and most likely are not venturing out, so it would definitely need to be a place that delivers, but I will not be driving up there to pick it up....it is 27 miles from me. My friend has said she will be going up tomorrow and I am having coffee with her tonight and will take her something to take to them. So, I am very limited on time here. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Ok, the website says there is a Caribou Cafe on the first floor. If I got them a gift card, could they use it there? Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhomemaker25 Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 What a great idea. I spent a fortune on snacks when my mom was in ICU. Fresh fruit would probably be nice. Cheese and crackers, pretzel rods, maybe a small cooler with some drinks. There was a grocery store nearby my mom's hospital and we would walk over there for subs. Change for the vending machines would probably be helpful as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I was thinking of fresh fruit, too. Gift cards and change are nice, but when one is spending so much time in the hospital, the options get old quickly. Something fresh would be so appealing! Something other than the unappetizing wrinkly oranges and spongy apples they might have on hand at the cafe. Do you think a pre-cut container of fruit would make the trip? Maybe some utensils and napkins to go along with it? A cooler with some nice cheeses or drinks? The gift card to Caribou sounds good, too, plus finding out if any local restaurants deliver. Maybe the receptionist at the hospital could point you toward some restaurant options. Besides food items, some minor self-care items might be nice, not sure if that would be too personal for you to send... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetbasil Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I always bring food for families stuck in the hospital and it's very well received. People have thanked me for it YEARS later, so I guess they liked it! I buy one of those disposable styrofoam coolers for $5 (ice is usually available at the hospital if someone needs to refill it). That way if there isn't fridge space available they can keep the food with them. I fill it with simple, non-messy food that is relatively "durable" like: Muffins Bagels & Cream cheese packets Pre-cut cheese and sliced sandwich meat Crackers Pita bread (sliced in half to use for a quick sandwich) Fruit, washed and ready to eat Salad in a take n toss container Non-crumbly homemade cookies (oatmeal raisin, sugar, etc) Bottled coffee (like Starbucks), individual containers of juice, etc Napkins & plasticware If the family has children who will be visiting I usually throw in some activity books and a pack of crayons Personally I think it's so nice to have easy food right at hand. In many critical situations people may not want to leave their loved one in order to get something to eat, or may be too upset to eat a full meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rieshy Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I always bring food for families stuck in the hospital and it's very well received. People have thanked me for it YEARS later, so I guess they liked it! I buy one of those disposable styrofoam coolers for $5 (ice is usually available at the hospital if someone needs to refill it). That way if there isn't fridge space available they can keep the food with them. I fill it with simple, non-messy food that is relatively "durable" like: Muffins Bagels & Cream cheese packets Pre-cut cheese and sliced sandwich meat Crackers Pita bread (sliced in half to use for a quick sandwich) Fruit, washed and ready to eat Salad in a take n toss container Non-crumbly homemade cookies (oatmeal raisin, sugar, etc) Bottled coffee (like Starbucks), individual containers of juice, etc Napkins & plasticware If the family has children who will be visiting I usually throw in some activity books and a pack of crayons Personally I think it's so nice to have easy food right at hand. In many critical situations people may not want to leave their loved one in order to get something to eat, or may be too upset to eat a full meal. :iagree: We spend a lot of time in the hospital. The best gift I ever received was very similar to this. My friend went to Panera and included some great bread, sliced and chicken salad. The fruit was especially awesome. Dove chocolate candies are always appreciated too:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhomemaker25 Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 :iagree: We spend a lot of time in the hospital. The best gift I ever received was very similar to this. My friend went to Panera and included some great bread, sliced and chicken salad. The fruit was especially awesome. Dove chocolate candies are always appreciated too:) Chicken salad with some rolls would be a great idea! I bet there is someone at the hospital, a volunteer probably, who could help you find out who delivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Thank you all. Fresh food would require me to drive up there myself tomorrow. Friend doesn't have room in her fridge and I don't have time to get a cooler and ice and fresh foods tonight. I have to be somewhere in an hour. If they end up staying past the weekend I could take something up then, but for tomorrow's visit, I just can't do it. Gift cards to local places via a hospital worker isn't really going to work for tomorrow either. I would need to drive up to the place to get them. I think I will need to settle for Caribou today and then worry about something better next week. I think they may be in a week or two. There are no other children who need entertaining. It is a young mom and dad and one 2 year old child. Some adult relatives are flying in today to help out. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 I will relay this info to my friend who is going up tomorrow....and will offer to give her $$ instead so she can pick up the items mentioned here.......that might be my best bet. I will see what she says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 Thank you all. I told her about what some of you said with providing a cooler with some quick eats and she thought that was a good idea. So, I gave her some $$ and she will get something tomorrow to take up. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Dawn, It is so nice you are helping them out. I hope he will be okay. The news I read said that a toddler died and that the e. coli was linked to the petting zoo. Do you know if he went to the petting zoo also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 It's very thoughtful for you to do this :001_smile:. I just wanted to add, if a cooler will be available, hummus and some sort of dipper, like cut up pita or those yummy pretzel crisps, would be tasty and filling. I know when I'm worried and stressed in hospital situations, if I must eat, snacking is all I care to do. Cut up fresh fruit and lights snacks would be wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photo Ninja Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Here is what we did for friends who had a toddler in ICU for nearly 4 weeks. We had two ice chests. One had drinks in it: juice, milk, sodas, Frappuccinos, etc. Whoever brought breakfast also brought ice for the coolers. One was for perishables. We also used a table in the waiting area. We kept hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, sometimes donuts or danishes, veggies and dip, bagels and cream cheese, lunch meats and cheese, rolls/croissants, and some salads. We varied the kinds daily so they were not eating the same thing every day. For dinners, we brought in hot meals at about the same time each night so the family could plan. These were cooked at home usually, but some people brought take out because it was easier for them than cooking. Our friends were able to put any dinner leftovers into the cooler to eat during the night if they got hungry. Sometimes there were other people in the waiting room, so we usually had enough for them to eat, too. These other couple families were very grateful because they didn't have anyone taking care of them like our friends did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 15, 2012 Author Share Posted October 15, 2012 THANK YOU! She called them yesterday and asked if she could bring an ice chest with foods like already mentioned and she said they were SO excited about the idea! They also requested some playing cards! She is shopping right now and will head up to the hospital in a bit. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 :iagree: Many places will deliver to hospitals that do not deliver to homes, so I would call around to businesses who are willing to deliver and get gift cards. Pizza is fairly cheap and feeds a lot of people. :iagree::iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Your idea sounds really nice. People gave us a lot of visa gift cards we could use for delivery foods. My dd just got home after 35 days in PICU. Also our floor had refrigerator we could keep things in to eat and I put fruit, cheese, tortillias and bagels in it so didn't have to eat out all the time. Delivery foods were really nice because I really couldn't leave dd and had no car to go to restaurant anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy in Indy Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Hospital cafeterias have good food choices these days, and it's easy for a family to get to. Perhaps there's a gift card or some arrangement you can make there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 They have been so thrilled with the cooler! We have refilled it at least every other day. We have purchased food and taken food and Monday night I made PB&J sandwiches cut in 1/4 for our scout troop. I was a bit sad to have almost all of them left at the end of the night. My friend took them up to the hospital along with a bunch of other food. You know what that dad did? He grabbed the PB&J sandwiches and said, "PB&J? You have NO idea how good those look! I am tired of all the fried foods and PB&J will hit the spot!" Who knew? :lol: Just as a little background, this is for a little 2 year old girl who is one of the victims of the e-coli outbreak here in NC. She has had 2 or 3 surgeries and is on tubes all over the place. She almost died twice. So far we have taken sandwich fixings (meat/cheese and PB&J), cut up veggies and fruit, juice boxes, tea, chips, crackers, bagels, cake, cookies, and several other things. More will go up tomorrow. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Thanks for the update. I have been wondering about her. That is great about the pbnj.....I would not have guessed that either, but it makes sense! Do they think she caught it from the petting zoo, or from food she ate? I hope she gets better quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex-mex Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 If the family is out of town... has the nurse, doctor or social worker contacted the nearest Ronald McDonald house?? They will have the family stay overnight or up to a few weeks. Laundry, TV, books are on site. Shuttle services too. They allow families to eat there too and volunteers usually make a large potluck dinner nightly. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 If the family is out of town... has the nurse, doctor or social worker contacted the nearest Ronald McDonald house?? They will have the family stay overnight or up to a few weeks. Laundry, TV, books are on site. Shuttle services too. They allow families to eat there too and volunteers usually make a large potluck dinner nightly. HTH Yes to this! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 I know they know about it, I don't know the details though. I know the parents don't want to leave her side for one min, but the extended family may be staying there. If the family is out of town... has the nurse, doctor or social worker contacted the nearest Ronald McDonald house?? They will have the family stay overnight or up to a few weeks. Laundry, TV, books are on site. Shuttle services too. They allow families to eat there too and volunteers usually make a large potluck dinner nightly. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 They don't know. She has had 2 surgeries and almost died twice. It has been awful. Thanks for the update. I have been wondering about her. That is great about the pbnj.....I would not have guessed that either, but it makes sense! Do they think she caught it from the petting zoo, or from food she ate? I hope she gets better quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 A plain old pre-paid visa card would allow them to pay for almost anything anywhere. Thanks for updating us. Thank you all. Fresh food would require me to drive up there myself tomorrow. Friend doesn't have room in her fridge and I don't have time to get a cooler and ice and fresh foods tonight. I have to be somewhere in an hour. If they end up staying past the weekend I could take something up then, but for tomorrow's visit, I just can't do it. Gift cards to local places via a hospital worker isn't really going to work for tomorrow either. I would need to drive up to the place to get them. I think I will need to settle for Caribou today and then worry about something better next week. I think they may be in a week or two. There are no other children who need entertaining. It is a young mom and dad and one 2 year old child. Some adult relatives are flying in today to help out. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 They don't know. She has had 2 surgeries and almost died twice. It has been awful. Thanks. I am praying for her. I cannot imagine what the family is going through. What a blessing to be in an area with such excellent health care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 She had the machine on her heart removed! YEAH! She is still incubated, but she is doing better. The father requested MORE PB&J sandwiches! I can't believe that his favorite thing out of all the goodies my friend has taken up, that PB&J is his favorite! :D My friend went up again yesterday to fill their cooler. So thankful she is doing better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 I can totally believe the PB&J! There's not too many days that I go without peanut butter and I'd be craving my everyday foods by now. Might be good to take him a whole jar along with some crackers so he can get his fix any time. So glad she's turned the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teresa Tolbert Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 I am interested in delivering snacks to hospital waiting rooms. Do I have to get consent first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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