re: Friends son just passed away in a car accident

Gift cards. Like lots of them in 10 dollar amounts.

My wife's family does this a lot, and they will give like $1,000 or more of gift cards to the person. You could do a collection of people. Basically a small shoe box full.

I didn't understand at first, but in a tragic loss people kind of don't know what to say or do.

My wife's family member lost someone important and he'd carry like 5 a day with him. He'd give them to people randomly or more to the point to do something nice or to stop a conversation if it got to be too much.

It ended up really structuring a day- he'd focus on how many and who would get them. It's a way to distract.

We also do this with miscarriages... Women can forget a lot of stuff when they are sorrowing so sometimes they would forget their bank cards or whatever, gift cards in the car, glove box, etc.