Ideas for Silent Auction basket - college themed

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Hello oh wise and creative CC friends!</p>

<p>S (a HS senior) has the lead in the spring musical this year. Parents have been asked to each put together a themed “basket” for a silent auction to be held the weekend of the performances. In a flash of creativity (it doesn’t happen often), I thought of putting together a “going off to college” basket for my contribution. </p>

<p>So far I’ve thought of:</p>

<p>A book such as The Naked Roommate (or similar)
Envelopes/Stamps
Ramen Noodles</p>

<p>I know more ideas will come to me over the course of the next couple of days - but do you have any thoughts? Trying to keep it small/inexpensive…just some little doo-dads & stuff.</p>

<p>How about a “name” for the basket?</p>

2

<p>Thumb drives, booklight, iTunes gift card, small sewing kit (matchbook size), ibuprofen, bandaids, Neosporin</p>

<p>“Look out world, here I come”</p>

3

<p>Small tool kit (I found one at Target, on clearance), Command Post it hooks, first aid kit, a dorm room cookbook (just saw a couple at the library, but I can’t remember the title).</p>

4

<p>School supplies like a stapler with extra staples and a remover, pencils, pencil sharpener, a bunch of pens, a highlighter, tape, scissors, glue, eraser, white out, red pen/pencil, hole puncher, reinforcements, </p>

<p>All of those type of things can be useful in a dorm room.</p>

5

<p>I would put everything in either a laundry basket or collapsable hamper. Besides the sewing kit, a first aid kit-bandaids, neosporin, cortisone cream, purell, tylenol.</p>

<p>Gift cards to CVS/Walgreens, itunes, amazon, etc</p>

<p>Ear plugs, over the door hooks.</p>

6

<p>DVD of a college-themed movie.</p>

7

<p>Packets of microwave popcorn
Individual packets of instant coffee like Starbucks Via
Roll of duct tape
T shirt from Target that says “College” like the one John Belushi wore in the movie Animal House</p>

8

<p>a roll of quarters for laundry</p>

9

<p>Naked Roommate and roll of quarters were my first thoughts… so “seconding those emotions.”</p>

<p>How about making up a card or sheet on the computer, with headings for the parent to fill in: Mom’s phone________<strong><em>, Dad’s phone</em></strong><strong><em>, Mom’s email</em></strong><strong><em>, Dad’s email</em></strong>_______ with instructions to “Use daily” (or at least weekly, lol). Just for a laugh and little reminder that the home folks would like to hear from the kid occasionally.</p>

10

<p>

Either “Animal House” or “Accepted” (my kids loved that one) would be good.
Can’t think of anything else - you’ve had some great suggestions. Love the idea for this basket!</p>

11

<p>Some possible names (couldn’t think of anything superclever…but …maybe some of the better CC writing wizards will come though…):</p>

<p>Going Away Goodies
College Bound Basket
New Student Necessities
Nine Items New Students Need (and put nine items in the basket…)</p>

12

<p>These are all great suggestions. I would add one of those wind up flashlights, an extenstion cord or power strip and a bottle of Downy wrinkle releaser. My son loves that, he hasn’t ironed yet!</p>

13

<p>Duct tape.</p>

<p>We did a basket like this and put it all in a laundry basket. We also included a set of xlong sheets, a small fleece throw, a bath sheet, gift cards to Starbucks, and some of the above things (school supplies and toiletries).</p>

14

<p>Great ideas! A laundry basket will make a better presentation. The pop-up kind will be better for the student… go with the basket.<br>
I’d advise you don’t include sheets, since they are expensive and dorm-specific. Fleece throw is good, takes up room in the basket. Tool kit from Target can be put into the basket opened up, with duct tape and other stuff in the open area. [Apollo</a> 39-pc. General Do-It-Yourself Kit - Pink : Target](<a href=“http://www.target.com/Apollo-39-pc-General-Do-Yourself/dp/B000SZLPBU/ref=sc_qi_detaillink]Apollo”>http://www.target.com/Apollo-39-pc-General-Do-Yourself/dp/B000SZLPBU/ref=sc_qi_detaillink)
Have fun, and please come back and tell us about the musical !</p>

15

<p>Make an attempt to get a store to donate a gift certificate. It will cost you nothing, but it will certainly get folks bidding higher.</p>

16

<p>I’ve had luck finding city mugs in Starbucks and giving them as gifts to kids when they head off to college as a little reminder of home.</p>