Corporate definitely.

Someone at work got one and the fruit is actually very good, but it is kind of corporate.

against.

I like this site for gift baskets. Although... I don't know if any of them really work for sympathy.

For death in the family, I usually send a nice card with a warm hand written note.

I am opposed to sending flowers... within a few days they will die... seems a bit morbid to me. If you every feel the need to send me something like that, send the fruit. Come to think of it, no need to wait for a death in the family, just send me fruit anyway... I like fruit.

mess - yeah, exactly. or maybe something you'd bring to a housewarming party. i'm just not sure i like the idea of sending it to someone whose father has just died (which is what happened recently and put this thought in my head).

kristin - hey. a vegan gift basket site. awesome business idea. i like the card and a handwritten note thing too. I also like to donate money if there's an organization the person was passionate about. or if it's local, bring over a home cooked meal. or ....it just depends on how well you know the person and what might be right.

headpigeon - hahaha.

I actually work for an Edible Arrangements in California. Believe it or not, we get requests to deliver to people who have just lost family members. I don't know what it is about the fruit baskets, but it seems that people will use them for any occasion. I think it's more that it's something new to send, and it's not the same old thing everyone is doing.

My Mom got one as a birthday gift from a cousin. My folks enjoyed it very much. So I think it is fine as a personal gift. It might seem a bit "celebratory" for sending when there is a death in the family. I usually go with a card/note and a donation if appropriate.

Again as a personal gift I think alot of people like edible arrangements. They like fruit, they like a gift they can "use" right away and it's healthier than candy.

Generally, especially if the person is local, gifts of food are welcome when there is a death in the family. Often people don't feel like eating never mind having to prepare something. And often they have people stopping by to see them so it is handy to have something to serve guests.

ediblearranger - thanks for stopping by. i definitely believe that there are others who send them for a death in the family. That was my recent experience with a friend.

Donna - yeah, i was thinking about that later. If i'm making my homemade mac and cheese to take over because usually after a death nobody has time to cook or should worry about cooking, the fruit arrangements are food too. Technically I have sent one as I did donate to the fund to send my friend something. It didn't matter that it was an edible arrangement. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm just saying if I was going to send something myself I wouldn't send one for a death in the family.

Of course I would send one, especially to arrive the day before the memorial service or funeral. I guess it is the Southern in me, you always send food over after a death, to help with facing the visitors, to keep folks healthy & strength up. To get things into the house that they don't have to think about. When Jeff died I would have felt it perfectly appropriate to receive.

It is a way of reaching out without getting lost in the crowd. A gift to a charity in name of the deceased is also very appropriate. However the best gift of all is to wait a bit & then call the family, visit & give out hugs. The first few weeks are so filled with shock & pain that not a lot makes an impact. But down the road, a hug & a shoulder come in quite handy. Especially when you realize we don't grieve on a timeline. It will still be valid when ever it comes thru the door.