Remember the people of Aurora!

 After the shooting tragedy in Aurora Colorado we are at a loss for what to do or how to help. Aurora is a suburb of Denver. We are all feeling such sadness and send our sympathy and best wishes and best hope for healing to that whole community. The shooting brought national news and what a devastating tragedy. I am so sorry and want to do something to help. The Aurora police department must be amazing with what they are dealing with. They made it to the scene in 90 seconds. People and businesses in Aurora must be comforted to know the department replies so quickly. Plus what must those heroes from the police department and all the medical facilities in Aurora Colorado feel now as they work to save lives and keep people safe. You cannot put a price tag on that kind of assistance. A few of friends yesterday had a discussion and we all decided to do something. Some are sending cards and others of us need to do something far more personal to help our own sense of healing the emotional wounds. My cousin is going to send some kind of food coupons and my neighbor is sending flowers with a message. My brother is a small business owner and suggested we find neighborhood Aurora Colorado businesses to support since they must really feel the impact. So we are going online to find coffee shops, pizza places, florists, etc. I was going to place an online order to an Aurora company Baskets by Rita to send a Sympathy Basket to be shared by everyone. http://www.basketsbyrita.com

Funeral Etiquette For Gifts

When become aware that someone has passed away, your first impulse is to send a gift to the deceased's family in their time of grief, but make sure you know and follow good funeral gift etiquette according to their culture. There is a multiplicity of gifts that you might consider sending to the sorrowful family that will ease their pain and send the message that your thoughts are with them in their time of hardship. Food: Perhaps the most welcome gift during a time of bereavement is that of food. Whether you have dinners delivered or drop by with a casserole, the message is that you are thoughtful of the family's loss. However, be aware about intruding on the family's time when bringing the gift. A short visit of about 15 minutes is proper to deliver the food and convey condolences. Proper funeral gift etiquette for food is to give items that require little preparation, such as a sympathy gift basket or a comfort food gift basket. Even if you assume that many people will give food, your condolence gift basket will last of many weeks without being opened since all the items are shelf stable. Flowers: The most widespread funeral gift is flowers. Before you send any, find out if there are certain conditions for memoral service flowers depending on the religious association of the deceased. For example, Jewish funeral traditions don't integrate flowers while other gifts are considered more proper. Others, such as Hindus or Muslims, don't consider funeral flowers as traditional, but the gesture may be seen as considerate by certain groups. Funeral flowers for a Catholic, LDS or Buddhist funerals are proper and welcomed. Consult a florist if you have any doubts, they will be well versed in differenttraditions for funerals. Gifts to Charity: Memorial gifts are a popular custom that allows money that would normally be spent on luxurious floral arrangements to be elected for a explicit organization, charity or event. Generally, the family will name a preferred charity in the funeral announcement and call for donations in lieu of gifts. Don't violate funeral gift etiquette by sending flowers if the family has explicitly asked not to. After the

Funeral: Funeral gift etiquette also allows friends and family members to give a fruit and cheese gift basket in the days and years following a funeral. A sincere card or memento on the anniversary of the death sends the message that you care about family members and remember their loss. Even following up with family members a few weeks after the funeral with a meal or a potted plant can have a positive affect on the grieving heart. Funeral gift etiquette suggests that family members send a thank you card for the bereavement gift baskets or services they got during a time of bereavement, don't be offended if you don't receive one at all or if it arrives several weeks or months after the funeral. When someone is dealing with grief, time can slip by rapidly. http://www.basketsbyrita.com