Thanks to Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. for starting this kindness campaign and sponsoring this post.
As a blogger I get to participate in a ton of amazing campaigns but my favorites are ones that let me give back to my community. I was asked if I wanted to join a “spread kindness” initiative to create a gift basket for a cancer patient and I’m happy to be participating. Getting a cancer diagnosis is devastating so making them a gift basket is just a small gesture we can do to show that we care and want to help them get through this difficult time.
Before I created my gift basket I looked online at what items were best to include. At the store I bought cancer fighting foods along with some items to help with self-care and stress-relief and created my basket to give to a cancer patient.
Today I’m sharing what I included in my gift basket. I hope that it gives you ideas if you want to create your own gift basket for someone who has cancer or is going through chemo.
Blanket
The first item I put in the basket was a beautiful, warm blanket to keep the patient warm. Hospital blankets are so scratchy and this nice blanket can bring a bit of home into the hospital.
Fruits & Veggies
Fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the best cancer fighting foods you can give a cancer patient. I put together a bag of items including spinach, apples, oranges, tomatoes and carrots.
Healthy Meal Starters
I included an organic soup for a quick lunch option. Beans and quinoa are great starters for healthy dinners.
Snacks & Vitamins
Everyone needs snacks and I included some delicious ones that have health benefits as well, like dark chocolate, nuts and fruit strips. I also added Vitamin C gummies, a protein powder, and honey, a natural sweetener.
Stress Relief
Staying stress free is essential so I wanted to include some items to help the cancer patient relax. I put an adult coloring book and colored pencils in the basket along with some candles they could light and some stress relief tea to sip.
Self-Care
In the basket I included some things to pamper them like healing lotion, epson salt crystals for a bath, and Chapstick for dry lips. I added slippers with no-slip bottoms and a pretty head scarf as well.
Want more ideas of things to include in your gift basket? Get more ideas here.
The best part about putting the basket together was getting my kids involved. Kindness is one of the most important qualities that someone can possess and something I want my kids to learn at an early age. I want them to make it their purpose in life to do nice things for people and put smiles on the faces of others. Having lost their grandma to cancer a few years back, this campaign is really a special one for them to help with and I’m happy they could help me make and donate the basket.
Along with creating a gift basket you can bring a home cooked meal, offer to help watch children or pets, hire a cleaning service to help them around their house, pamper them by painting their nails or just lend a listening ear.
I hope you will join me in spreading kindness this year! Tag me on social media with a picture of your basket if you join in and bring a basket to someone. Also, if you have any other ideas of items to include in the gift basket please share in the comments below. Together we can bring a smile to the face of others :)
What a well thought out basket. It’s so important to instill the concept of giving in children from an early age. This is a wonderful project for a family
That is SUCH a awesome basket! You put a lot of thought in it! I think anyone that is fighting cancer would love something like this!
This is a very thoughtful gift idea. I would like to point out though, that you would probably want to ask first about the fresh fruits and veggies. When my father in law was fighting multiple myeloma, at one point his numbers got so low that he was not allowed to have any raw, fresh fruits or vegetables because he wouldn’t have been able to fight off anything that was lingering on them. We weren’t even allowed to bring them into his room for us to eat.
Thanks for sharing that, Jen! I didn’t realize that could be an issue but that’s a good point to keep in mind.
What a great idea! Cancer patients are always in need of things like blankets and organic foods. This is a great basket.
Thank you so much! It’s always hard for me to know what to do for my family and friends that are fighting cancer. This is awesome. It’s sure to bring some comfort.
This looks like an amazing basket to put together. Such a sweet idea!
All of these items would be perfect to put together. I would love to give a basket like this.
We have some people that could definitely benefit from one of these baskets. So thoughtful.
I can see how simple enjoyable snacks and things would be a good idea. These are really good recommendations.
These are fantastic products to add to a gift basket. I would love to add a crochet blanket I make myself.
This is a wonderful idea and would be greatly appreciated by the receiver! I love that you included useful and needed items, too!
What a lovely, well thought out gesture. So many wonderful items.
im a pediatric nurse and have many patients with cancer and i think its a wonderful idea and have seen gift baskets given from their classmates and fam members. nurse Jessica xoxo
What a thoughtful idea. I love the blanket. Hospitals can get chilly and there is nothing as comforting as being wrapped up in a warm blanket.
I love these ideas. I always have a hard time coming up with what to give someone in this situation, and I think these are perfect. Thanks for sharing!
These are great ideas! It’s really important that we have an idea for what to bring when we visit a cancer patient. Such a very helpful post!
This is such a sweet idea.
What a thoughtful basket. I have too many friends who could use this. Thank you for the idea.
This is so great! What a great way to give back!