University Student Care Package — First Semester Survival

The care package parents send when their kid starts university. Seven comfort-first essentials — no snacks that vanish in a day — arranged in the signature navy Gitano Kit gift box and shipped free, in 1–2 business days, to any campus in Canada or the United States.

Why we made First Semester Survival

Gitano Kit is a Toronto gifting studio, and every September we watch the same scene play out across our city: move-in day at U of T, TMU and York — cars double-parked, mini-fridges on the sidewalk, and parents making the quiet drive home to a house that suddenly feels bigger. The first care package most students receive is a box of snacks that's gone by Friday. We wanted to build the one that lasts the whole semester: a box about sleeping better, settling in, and feeling looked after — made mostly by Toronto makers, and residence-safe (no candles, no open flames, nothing that expires on a shelf). That's First Semester Survival.

What's inside the box (7 items)

• Mulberry Silk Sleep Mask — Silk & Snow (Toronto), 19-momme, OEKO-TEX certified. Blocks the dorm-hallway light. Choose the mask colour: White, Champagne, Pink, Navy or Black.
• Soft Silicone Ear Plugs + travel case — because residence walls are thin and roommates keep different hours.
• Everyday Cotton Socks — Province of Canada (Toronto). Made in Canada; a pair is donated to a shelter with every two sold.
• Handmade Ceramic Mug — FIKA Café × Akai Ceramic (Toronto). A late-night tea mug that isn't from the res caf.
• Gold Tea Infuser — Cup of Té (Toronto). Loose-leaf ritual, zero equipment needed.
• Loose-Leaf Tea Sachets (3) — a calming caffeine-free blend to get the ritual started on night one.
• Sleep Shower Steamers (3) — Bathorium (Ottawa). Spa-calm from a residence shower stall — no bathtub required.

Make it personal

Every box ships with a Gitano card. Add your message in the order note at checkout — we handwrite it word for word, so the first thing they see when the lid opens is you. First-week homesickness doesn't stand a chance.

Who it's for

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends sending love to a first-year (or any-year) student — for move-in week, midterms, exam season, or the first cold that hits residence in October.

Common questions

What is a good care package for a university student? One that helps them sleep and settle in — not just snacks. First Semester Survival packs a silk sleep mask, ear plugs, cozy Canadian-made socks, a handmade mug, a tea ritual and shower steamers into one gift box.

Can you ship it to any university? Yes. We're Toronto-born — U of T, TMU, York and McMaster are our backyard — and we ship free within 1–2 business days to any campus or address across Canada and the United States: McGill, UBC, Queen's, Waterloo, or a dorm in New York or Boston.

Is it residence-safe? Yes — no candles, no flames, no food that spoils. Everything is dorm-friendly.

Order today — ships free within 1–2 business days across Canada & the U.S.