Sympathy Gifts That Aren’t Flowers

Native Trees and Plants

A longer-lasting option to freshly cut flowers is a tree or plant that can be placed in a garden or place of memorial after the service.

Trees that Count offer a native tree gifting service that allows you to select an appropriate card to accompany your gifted tree, which is then sent to the family, and they also give families the opportunity to open a tree registry for the funeral service so that people can donate a tree in lieu of a gift, and all donated trees will then be planted on behalf of the person who has died.

Giving Pages and Trusts

Sometimes, if someone dies suddenly or at a young age, the family they have left behind can be left in a financially unstable situation. In these situations, family and friends may wish to help by setting up a giving page online with Just Giving, or a trust.

Acts of Kindness

The emotions in the first few days and weeks following a loss can be overwhelming. Offering to support the next of kin in practical ways, allowing them room to grieve, can be incredibly helpful. Here are some ideas:

• Cooking meals
• Doing a grocery shop
• Cleaning or laundry
• Driving them to appointments, or handling the school drop-off and pick-up
• Assisting with organising the funeral or helping with the paperwork

Friends and family can be a wonderful source of support for those that are grieving but reaching out and asking for help can sometimes be difficult. Support Crew allows people to set up a page where they can list everything they need help with, from transport to and from appointments, to help with the housework, and meal deliveries, and invite their network to it.

Read more about the grieving process, and ways to support someone who is grieving.

Compassion Cards

Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is grieving, these beautiful compassion cards offer comfort and can be kept and treasured. They are a sensitive alternative to cut flowers for those looking for a thoughtful sympathy gift.

We hope this article has helped you with some ideas on gifts to help support your loved ones.