What to get a grieving man

[Leobynature]

My lovely male colleague who left the job a couple of years ago texted me today to say his teenage son passed away. He was terminally ill for a while but nevertheless he lost his child. I said he could ask me for anything and I would be glad to help and of course I mean that.
I will drop a card off tomorrow. If it was a female I would also have brought a lovely bouquet of flowers. I know he wouldn’t care for this. Does anyone have any ideas of what else I could give?

Hi. Maybe some home made cookies or dessert he might like that he could maybe plate up over a coffee as sometimes just a normal chat with a friend goes a long way

I wouldn’t take anything, doesn’t feel appropriate, just let him know you’re there (wouldn’t take flowers for a female colleague either).

I would drop off a thinking of you card st this stage, but in the future 4-6 weeks perhaps email and suggest you pop round with coffees and cake (or similar) just to be a friend, then perhaps a few weeks later suggest meeting for coffee out - too many people back off and ignore the bereaved because they feel awkward

With the card I would drop off essentials like milk, tea bags and coffee-and maybe some ready meals or food. Even though he may not feel like eating it will save him going to the shops which is a normality that can feel very hard to do at a time like this. My close friend came round with a huge bag of breakfast foods during my close family bereavement and it was such a lovely gesture and made sure we ate at least something.

Thanks guys. I feel like it’s appropriate to take something. I like the idea of a bag of essential food items, dessert and a card. X