GreatfulMoments.com | Thanksgiving Giving, Christmas Gift Guide for Teens & Holiday Care Basket
When I first discovered Natracare while working on our Back-to-School Gift Guide for Girls, I was looking for products that could help young ladies feel prepared and confident as they headed into another school year. I never imagined that months later, I would be sitting here thinking about those same products as part of our family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas giving plans.
But isn’t that how life works sometimes? God puts something in front of us, and we don’t always understand the bigger purpose until later. As our family has been discussing ways to give back during the holidays, including putting together care packages for women, teens, and families in local shelters, I started thinking about Natracare again.
And I realized something. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts aren’t the prettiest packages under the Christmas tree. Sometimes they’re the everyday necessities that help someone feel comfortable, confident, and cared for. These are the products I wish I had knew about when I was a Teen and Suzzane to.
Now, LADIIES, put on your big girl panties because ere going to talk about something no, one ones to think about. Men, cover your ears because this isn’t something your going to want to hear. LOL At least Charlie and David wouldn’t want to. How about your men Ladies?
Ladies, we all know that Aunt Flo doesn’t check the calendar before showing up. She doesn’t care if it’s Thanksgiving morning, Christmas Eve, or the day you’ve planned to spend with family and friends. She just shows up! And wouldn’t it be nice if she at least called first? But we all know that isn’t going to happen. LOL
Now imagine being a teenager or a woman staying in a shelter, trying to get through the holidays, and realizing you don’t have the feminine care products you need. That’s not something anyone should have to worry about. No woman or young lady should have to feel embarrassed about something that is a natural part of life. And that’s one of the reasons I believe feminine care products deserve a place in our holiday giving plans.
When we originally received Natracare products to review, I appreciated learning about the company’s commitment to organic and natural materials, environmental responsibility, and making personal care products with purpose. Natracare offers products including organic cotton tampons, pads, and panty liners, giving women different options depending on their personal needs and preferences.
But what stayed with me was the bigger message behind the brand. Taking care of people and caring for the world around us can go hand in hand. And when we started talking about creating holiday care baskets, I realized these products could help us do something meaningful right here in our own community.
Not every gift has to be expensive. Not every gift needs a bow. Sometimes a package of feminine care products can make someone’s holiday a little easier. One thing I want our family to focus on this Thanksgiving is giving before the holiday arrives. We often think about donating food, helping prepare Thanksgiving meals, or making sure families have something special to eat. And those things are important.
But what about the personal care necessities that people need every single day? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to put together a few Thanksgiving care packages for women and young ladies staying in local shelters? We could include feminine care products, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, and perhaps a little handwritten note reminding someone that they’re not forgotten.
I would love for these packages to reach the organizations before Thanksgiving so the women and teens receiving them have what they need during the holiday. Because whether you’re sitting around a Thanksgiving table with family or spending the holiday somewhere unfamiliar, everyone deserves dignity, comfort, and kindness. And nobody should have to worry about Aunt Flo showing up when they aren’t prepared!
As we’re working on our Christmas Gift Guide for Teens, I also want to remind families that gifts don’t always have to be video games, clothing, makeup, or electronics. Sometimes practical gifts are the ones that get used the most. For teenage girls, especially those beginning to navigate their monthly cycles, a thoughtfully prepared personal care basket can be a meaningful gift.
Imagine a pretty little basket with feminine care products, a soft pair of socks, a small journal, lip balm, and a few other age-appropriate necessities. You could even include a handwritten card that says: “You are loved. You are important. And you deserve to feel comfortable and confident every day.”
I think that would make a lovely gift for a teenage daughter, granddaughter, niece, or a young lady who might not otherwise receive many Christmas presents. And for teens living in shelters or experiencing difficult circumstances, having access to basic personal care supplies can be especially important.
We don’t always know what someone else is going through. But we can do our part to make their day a little brighter. Our family has been talking about putting together care packages to share with local shelters during the holiday season. And the more I think about it, the more excited I become. These baskets don’t have to cost a fortune.
We can start small, gather items as we’re able, and work with organizations that can help distribute them to people who need them. For a women’s care basket, we might include Natracare feminine care products, a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, lotion, and a pair of warm socks.
For a teenage girl’s basket, we could add a small notebook, hair accessories, lip balm, and a cheerful note. We could even create a special Christmas version with a little holiday decoration or an encouraging message. Of course, before assembling anything, we’ll want to contact the shelters and ask which products they need most, whether they accept assembled baskets, and if everything needs to be new and unopened.
That way, we’re giving something that can truly be used. And if someone prefers a different type of feminine care product, that’s okay too. The purpose isn’t to tell anyone what they should use. The purpose is to make sure they have access to what they need to help everyone out.
When I homeschooled Suzzane and Charlie through Cates Homeschooling, I always believed that some of the most important lessons weren’t found in textbooks. They were found in everyday life. Helping someone. Showing kindness. Learning to think about other people. And understanding that even when we don’t have much, we may still have something to share.
I think putting together holiday care packages could be a wonderful learning experience for homeschool families, church groups, teenagers, and even grandparents looking for a meaningful activity to do with their grandchildren. Let the kids help choose the supplies.
Have them decorate a card. Talk about why personal care items are important and why everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Those conversations matter. And who knows? A simple holiday project might become a family tradition that continues long after Christmas is over.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I keep thinking about how easy it is to become caught up in shopping, decorating, cooking, and making sure everything is perfect. But the holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is notice someone else’s needs.
A package of feminine care products. A warm pair of socks. A handwritten note. A little basket filled with necessities. These may seem like small things, but to someone who needs them, they can mean so much. I’m grateful that our original Natracare review has given me another opportunity to think about ways our family can give back.
And I’m looking forward to seeing how our holiday care basket plans come together. Because giving isn’t about how much money we spend. It’s about how much love we put into what we do. From our family to yours, may your Thanksgiving and Christmas be filled with kindness, compassion, and opportunities to bless someone else.
A Note About Our Holiday Giving Project
Our family is exploring ways to prepare Thanksgiving and Christmas care packages for local shelters and community organizations in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
We’ll share more about our plans, the supplies we’re gathering, and ways other families can participate as the project develops.
If you’re inspired to create a care basket of your own, please contact a local organization first to find out what items are needed and accepted.
Because everyone deserves to feel cared for, especially during the holidays.
About Natracare: Learn more about the company’s personal care products at Natracare.com.
Editor’s note: This article is a holiday giving feature inspired by products we previously received for review. It does not mean Natracare is sponsoring or supplying our shelter care basket project.
Disclosure: Our family received complimentary Natracare products for an honest review. We previously reviewed these products, and we’re revisiting the brand as part of our Thanksgiving and Christmas giving series. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
GratefulMoment.com
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
