Care packages are a thoughtful way to tell your girlfriend you are thinking of her or wishing her well while she is away. However, if you want your care package to stand out as something special, a gift that truly says you care, then take the time to choose items that genuinely fit her personality and her needs as well as your pocketbook and your intent.

A rock or seashell you and she found together on a walk tells her you’re sentimental about the time you spend together. So does a small jar of sand or soil from a special place you two enjoy visiting. Print out all of the emails the two of you have exchanged since she’s been gone and tie them in a bundle with a ribbon. Include a subscription to her favorite magazine or a book by her favorite author in your care package.

Fill attractive, plastic containers with her favorite candies and snack foods. If your girlfriend likes to pamper herself, fill containers with bath salts or beads, powdered bubble bath or an assortment of bottled aromatherapy oils.

For the ultimate romantic gesture in a care package, have a friend take photos of you in all of the places you and your girlfriend used to enjoy going and include a love letter for each one, telling her how much you miss her and how much you enjoy spending time with her.

A practical care package is the right choice if your girlfriend is a no-nonsense kind of person, if she is in an area where basic essentials are not easy to locate, or if your relationship has not advanced to the point that a romantic gesture is appropriate.

Personal care items are appreciated in a practical care package. Items such as razors (make sure they are made for women), soap, shampoo and toothpaste are other good choices.

If you know your girlfriend likes to keep things neat, include a lint brush, a bottle of hand disinfectant, a laundry pen for erasing stains and a small sewing kit. Favorite snacks and reading materials are always appreciated. Pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes and stationary are another thoughtful, practical idea. Include a package of ballpoint pens to make sure she has everything she needs to send letters home.

The college student has a specific set of needs that you can meet with a care package. Non-perishable food items are always a hit, but skip the junk food and send her some microwave popcorn, instant oatmeal, nuts or soup-in-a-cup meals.

Let her know you are concerned about her health by sending cough drops, immune-boosting medicines and vitamins to reduce her chances of getting sick and travel-size packages of tissues in case she does.

A roll of quarters may be more appreciated than you might first imagine. College students need quarters for doing laundry, getting snacks from vending machines and parking. A phone card is another thoughtful way to send a monetary gift. Include a note saying you want to be the first person she calls.

School supplies are also good items for a care package. Tuck in some blank CD’s, printer cartridges, pens, pencils and notebooks.