care package

American  

noun

1. Also CARE package. a package containing food, clothing, or other items sent as necessities to people in need of them.

2. a gift of treats to relatives or friends, especially of items not readily available to them.

   She sends monthly care packages of homemade cookies to her son at college.

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care package Idioms  

1. A gift package of food or other items not readily available to the recipient, as in While I was in college, Mom sent me a care package of homemade cookies just about every month. This term originated after World War II with CARE, an organization founded to send needed food, clothing, and other items to war-torn nations. By the 1960s the term had been transferred to sending packages of treats to children at camp, students away at school, and the like.

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Etymology

Origin of care package

First recorded in 1945–50; from the aid packages distributed by CARE

Example Sentences

Mr Craig should have been released from hospital a few weeks ago, but his release was delayed due to problems in getting a full care package.

From BBC

Ivan now has a care package so his constipation can be managed at home with laxatives and daily bowel wash outs.

From BBC

Andrew Malcolm, who has fought to get his 21-year-old son Fraser out of the hospital for four years, said it was not possible to get a suitable care package in place so quickly.

From BBC

There are currently hundreds of people stuck in hospitals across Northern Ireland who are medically fit to be discharged but do not have a care package or an appropriate facility to go to.

From BBC

He has a social care package for three support workers to look after him during the day, but his family is fighting for an NHS continuing care funding package to cover overnight care.

From BBC