For more than a decade, Brandy Agerbeck ’96 has crafted hundreds of student care packages
March 07, 2025 — Chicago-based visual artist Brandy Agerbeck ’96 has been involved with the Alumni Care Package project since the campaign was first launched by a group of alums on the Everyday Class Notes (ECN) Facebook page.
Now in its 11th year, the project – which previously was called ECN Care Packages – is aimed at sending every Grinnell student a package in the depths of Iowa’s winter. Agerbeck’s early efforts weren’t too elaborate, she says.
“My first year was a package of gluten-free pretzels and Oreos, a copy of one of my books, The Idea Shapers, and some Post-it notes,” says Agerbeck. A visual thinking expert, author, and graphic facilitator, Agerbeck assembled four identical packages and mailed them to Grinnell.
Visual artist Brandy Agerbeck ’96 is pictured with some of the items she included in this year’s care packages.
This year her care packages are color-coordinated, themed, sponsored, and tracked on spreadsheets. Throughout the year she hunts for small objects to buy in bulk, such as notebooks, markers, stickers and socks.
“There’s the art director in me who wants each tidy package to feel like it all goes together,” says Agerbeck, who was a studio art major at Grinnell. “Just being an artist and super visual is what I love to do best, so there’s definitely curation.”
She came up with 35 themes this year and assembled three packages per theme. “None of us want a student to open up a bag and feel disappointed,” she says, so she puts together a “nice mix” of goodies, often in a clear container, mug, or bag, so students can pick a package they’ll enjoy.
The black cat package, for example, includes one soft squishy black cat stuffed animals, black cat stickers and stationery, and color coordinated candy (black, silver, and yellow wrappers) inside a box with a hand-drawn black cat on the outside.
A green-and-pink themed relaxation package Agerbeck assembled encourages students to take breaks.
Another package centers on a pair of socks that say “Big Old Word Nerd,” along with a word puzzle book, a journal and pens, and a mini game of Boggle. A green-and-pink themed relaxation package encourages students to ‘take a break’ and includes a happy stuffed animal frog, stickers, pink and green gum and candy, and a mini hourglass to remind students to take a breather.
Agerbeck posted descriptions and photos of her themed packs this year on Facebook and heard from 25 alumni, each of whom sponsored a trio of packages for $40. “Funding gets more alumni involved,” says Agerbeck, who included a note from herself and the sponsor in the packages.
“For years I sent the packages anonymously because I felt this is about the students, not me,” she says. “And I didn’t want students to think that I expected a response.” But Scott Shepherd ’82 and Laura Cleveland Shepherd ’82, who annually drive from Oklahoma to bring packages and help coordinate distribution, told her that “students love the notes the best.”
This year alumni shipped and dropped off a total of 1,380 care packages. The packages were displayed on several long tables at the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center (JRC) and distributed to students Feb. 24-25. Students could select any care package they wanted, and alumni and staff volunteers added new packages to refresh the offerings throughout the two days. On the first day alone, 872 students came in to select a care package.
Students select Alumni Care Packages during the first day of distribution on Feb. 24. More than 870 students picked up packages that day.
This year alumni shipped and dropped off a total of 1,380 care packages. The packages were displayed on several long tables at the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center (JRC) and distributed to students Feb. 24-25. Students could select any care package they wanted, and alumni and staff volunteers added new packages to refresh the offerings throughout the two days. On the first day alone, 872 students came in to select a care package.
The idea for care packages started with a 2014 Facebook discussion in the alum group Everyday Class Notes. Alums were reminiscing about the old Carnegie Hall mailroom where some of them received notes or small gifts from prior mailbox owners, then paid it forward by sending something to the new mailbox owner after they graduated.
“This feels like a positive way to recognize this time of year and how hard it is at Grinnell. We’re sending valentines to every student,” says Agerbeck.
Grinnell students examine what’s in their care packages and write thank you notes to the alums who sent them.
She would like more alums to get involved in the process. “There are a few of us sending out 100 or so packages (as well as teams putting packages together), so I’d much rather see far more people do far fewer boxes and spread the energy. I’d love to see different cities do a potluck care package party each winter, sharing the energy, labor, and camaraderie.”
The Alumni Care Package project is one of those rare instances that makes everyone happy, says Scott Shepherd, who serves as president of the Alumni Council.
“The students love it. The alums love it. Parents love it. The faculty love it. The College loves it. It is truly a grassroots idea that has evolved into something wonderful,” he says. “Our packages definitely brighten up what can be a long, cold February in Iowa.”
—by Anne Stein ’84
For your information:
Alumni interested in sending care packages next year can join the Facebook group dedicated to the project. The Facebook site also has numerous photos and discussions about this year’s packages.
To read more alumni news, check out our news archive and like the Alumni & Friends Facebook page.