If you've taken elderly neighbours under your wing during lockdown ...

[midnightmoon8]

... what would you like to receive as a 'thank you' from their children once all this is over?

My folks don't live too far from me and I've been delivering their food shopping etc this past year, but a lovely neighbour of theirs has been looking out for them and delivering little treats to their door, dropping meals off when they are under the weather, phoning them for chats, etc - which has made me feel enormously relieved and grateful. My folks are really grateful to her and I've thanked her when I've seen her but would love to get her something to let her know how appreciated she is. What would you like to receive? Neighbour is 50.

I've been helping one of our neighbours with shopping etc, I have received wine and chocolates as little thank yous. Wasn't expecting them to get me anything but it was very kind of them. I am a similar age to your parents' neighbour

Your parents neighbour sounds lovely. How much were you thinking of spending)? I am same age as yr parents neighbour.

Flowers and chocolates always popular. Or maybe a smallish food hamper or selection of posh teas from a dept store? M&S do a treat hamper for £30. That sort of thing. I have been browsing at M&S and found this: https://www.marksandspencer.com/pamper-gift-bag-for-her/p/hpp60262323?intid=mobileappppdpshare

Gin and tonic? Beautiful plant for the garden or one of those ready planted planters for outside. Wine and chocolates is safe because it is generally appreciated, nice candle?

A token present but a heartfelt letter.

(Card with note rather than actual letter I should have written)

Watching with interest as I need to thank a very helpful neighbour.

Depends on your budget. what about a subscription but spaced out like a flower delivery but once a quarter (so 4 x flowers over a year)?

Betty’s in Yorkshire do some lovely treats, as do Ringtons. A bit more unusual than M&S etc.

It's a lovely idea to give them a present, but I wonder if it would be better coming from your parents (unless they are so old and frail that they couldn't manage to organise a gift themselves). Just saying this because DP and I are an older couple who have had a lot of support from various kind neighbours over the past year, but if DP's children decided to thank them for kindness to us, I would feel infantilised and disempowered. Maybe you could ask your parents if they have thought of giving something and if so would they like you to purchase?

Why would you feel infantilised @Bloodybridget? I assume the OP is thanking the neighbours from herself, and saying thank you for looking out for my parents, not thanking on behalf of her parents.

We have just sent a case of wine from Virgin wines to helpful neighbours.
We had some flowers delivered in December too.
I think a bottle of champagne is a lovely treat too, or Fortnum and Mason champagne truffles.
All depends what you want to spend?

@Bloodybridget
The OP is doing a lovely thing as their daughter. The kind neighbour has given her some peace of mind, which is priceless, and she wants to show her appreciation. Can't you see that?

Nothing! It's absolutely our pleasure to help out when they can't/don't feel safe to do so as they're frontline nhs. We do get regular thank you texts and funny old photos from both their dds though. One has promised us a day on the sherry afterwards, don't think me or dh has ever tried sherry

I really wouldn't expect anything.
I help people out, well, just because it is the nice thing to do. It's what makes the world go round.

If you feel strongly, then personally, I always appreciate a bunch of flowers, but, I would really prefer that people just "pass it forward" as it were, and help someone else out when they can.

I do elderly vulnerable neighbours food shop every week and I get embarrassed by their thanks every week as I really don’t mind doing it.

At Christmas, they (their DD) got me a beautiful house plant which I love, but didn’t expect or feel like I needed a present.

@ineedaholidaynow and @sugarcherry I know OP is motivated by gratitude. I'm giving my perspective as an older person. If you had adult DCs who were given help by neighbours, would you think of giving a present to the neighbours? I don't think so, I think you'd leave it to your DCs to express their thanks any way they chose.

If someone had gone out of their way to help any member of my family in a significant way I would like to send them a thank you of some sort.

Flowers and chocolates. Don't spend a lot. A card with heartfelt thanks will be really appreciated.

My neighbours daughter left me in a voucher for a local deli. Very unexpected, very much appreciated.

@Bloodybridget Yes, if i had vulnerable DC's living independently then yes, i would thank anymore who assisted them in my absence . Be it gift or financial recompense for their costs .

Cake delivery or hot chocolate from Bettys! Divine and would never get it myself so perfect as gift.

@Bloodybridget people have older /elderly relatives / parents who are not in a position to thank those who help them personally. Some have children who take that on board and act on their behalf. Their children's actions and desire to thank others show us how well their parents brought them up.

They are a credit to their parents.

I think a token is lovely, but it should be a token, nothing extravagant. Chocs, plant or wine.

I had a lovely surprise box of Marks and Spencer chocolates from my neighbour's daughter. It was so unexpected and definitely not needed, but during lockdown such thoughtfulnes was appreciated.

My elderly neighbour is an absolute delight and it's a pleasure to do small jobs for her.

Some sweets from aquarterof.co.uk ? She might like the 1970s hamper if she’s 50.