My niece is about to leave for college. In addition to the normal stuff a college bound student requires, I prepared a mini "college survival" kit, all packed within a small tupperware like container
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Contents:
Flashlight (LED) with spare alkaline batteries
Chemical light sticks (2)
3 juice boxes (comfort drinks - she likes apple juice)
8 snack bars (granola like, but with flavor)
Space blanket
Rain poncho
Assorted bandages
Antibiotic (Neosporin)
She will be instructed that this is for "emergencies only". The LED flashlight runs for an incredibly long time. The chemical light sticks (snap to activate) will light up a dorm room overnight. The juice boxes and snack bars will need to be rotated out every year. Hopefully she won't need to use any of this, but she can have some peace of mind knowing that it's there if her dorm is without power during the winter.
As a special surprise for your college kids, mail them a roll of quarters. That way, they can do their mailing (and laundry) on you and maybe even have something left over to buy a treat from a vending machine!