Dining services offers a way to ‘personally remember’ your child

If you are looking for an easy way to send your son or daughter a care package during the fall or spring semesters, the Messiah College Dining Services Department may have the answer. Since 1995, dining services has sent out “Personally Remembered” care packages to students on campus.

“We wanted to find a way to connect the parent with the student by utilizing the services we had to offer here on campus,” dining services director Richard Fritz explains. “We wanted to provide a convenient, flexible program with several choices.”

Options vary throughout the academic year, but the most popular item is offered during both semesters—the personalized cake. Parents typically order it for their child’s birthday, Fritz added.

“The busiest times are usually right around finals since the students are looking for encouragement and support,” Fritz said. Many parents order care packages at the beginning of the school year as well.

“Personally Remembered” care packages offered for finals weeks are: “spring finals survival basket” filled with soda, juice, popcorn, cookies, muffins, and candy (must be ordered by April 21); and a “Merry Christmas” final exams basket with candy canes, oranges, candy, Chex mix, gingerbread cookies and soda. At the beginning of the fall semester, dining services offers a “welcome to college survival pack” with a backpack, pens, pencils, highlighter, a notepad, ruler, candy and a Frisbee.

Options for “Personally Remembered” care packages offered this spring include: a Valentine box filled with heart-shaped cookies, candies, and special pastries; personalized cakes; a $5 Blockbuster card and a gift certificate to the Union Café; and a ten-inch decorated chocolate chip cookie.

For a complete listing of all the packages offered through dining services and a list of prices, visit http://www.messiah.edu/offices/dining/personally_remembered/.