Hellobee Boards

I think anything to help out such as bringing food, restaurant gift cards, groceries are good ideas. That is the last thing they need to think of right now.

What about hiring a cleaning service? Also, maybe consider spacing out the gift cards, etc. I bet their family and friends will help in the first few weeks, so having something for them later would probably be nice. How sad...so sorry to hear this.

I think the food delivery service idea/bringing food over is more helpful than restaurant gift cards? I was a teenager when one of my parents died, and no one felt like doing anything for weeks. Sometimes we wouldn't even bother microwaving the casseroles before eating them, but I really appreciated having food at hand when I was hungry. I couldn't imagine one of us picking out food and calling it in for delivery, much less going out to eat somewhere in that condition. If you know they are foodie kind of people though they might appreciate it.

To be quite honest, we were given cash, too, and that helped a lot with funeral costs and was much appreciated. I think heartfelt cards were the best. I also remember being given a "how to deal with grief" type of book aimed at teenagers, and that was also helpful.

@BabyBoecksMom: Maybe the office could coordinate bringing meals over?

https://www.takethemameal.com/

I would say the most helpful for us was meals, my boss sent over (way too much) food and it was so nice not having to go out to shop or to eat. I really would not have appreciated seeing people who I hadn't invited over even for cleaning help, sometimes you just don't want to see anyone. You could even set up an amazon delivery with other necessary household goods. I also really appreciated cards it was a way to tell me that everyone cared about me and loved my LO.

something similar happened in my office--i'm so sorry for your coworker and his kids. people organized bringing over meals, some of us paid for the funeral reception, and we took up a collection to give her cash. i know cash seems kind of impersonal but we thought it would give our coworker the most flexibility.

I think the ideas to help with meals and cleaning are great. If people wanted to give money, you could put it in a college fund for the twins.

If you were looking for something more personal and sentimental, I think a tree or a flowering bush makes a great gift. That way, it is a reminder in years to come.

Thoughtful cards that come from each of you individually, food service/ meal coordination that starts in a month or two, attending the funeral & if you want to give money do it at that time- again individully.

A coworker lost his wife & only child in a murder suicide. I didn't know him very well, but had to host him and another person all day within the week of the tragedy. I didn't know what to say or do, my manager told me not to cancel. Clearly he wanted to work and get back to a sense of normalcy.

I agree with meal delivery (in an organized fashion, so several meals don't come on the same day). Cards are nice, too.

For the meal delivery--try to cover dinner and some breakfasts, too--like breakfast casseroles. What an awful, terrible situation.

Agree with PPs, that the meals should be dropped of quickly--no lingering, inviting yourself in, or talking for a long time. If people want to band together and buy a cleaning service, that would be helpful, too.

I'd do food or money. A cleaning service could be bad if they're not ready for some things she touched to be cleaned.