Link to Checkout DFW Article as posted July 27, 2022
Have a homesick college student? Make their day with these Texas-themed gift boxes
It’s going to be a tough month for parents of college-bound students.
Many already have — or will very soon — ship their pride and joy off to college and officially become empty nesters.
Parents are filled with all of the emotions as they prepare to send their grown-up children to embark on the next chapter of their lives.
Whether your kids admit it or not, they will — or already are — miss you and their Texas hometowns. So, how can you help that homesick feeling go away? How about surprising them with a homesick gift box with all of the things they are probably missing about Texas and you.
Like many great ideas, Lone Star Roots in Frisco was born over garage talk and drinks.
Bring Texas to your student
Lone Star Roots, a DFW-based company that specializes in fashionable and vintage Texas T-Shirts, hats and gifts, has you covered when it comes to all the things you and your kids love about the Lone Star State.
Carrie Ermence, owner of Lone Star Roots said for around $50 you could build a gift box that is sure to bring a smile to your student’s face.
“You could put a shirt, a hat and some of our popcorn in one of our boxes,” she said. “It really could be anything, a mug, a coaster or just anything we have that reminds people that they love where they come from. We did something like this last year and people really loved it.”
Specifically, any of these Texas-themed items would fit great in a box: Happy Camper, TX Born and Raised hat, If Lost Return to Texas T-shirt,Patriot unisex tee and the Texas 1845 hat and shirt. They’ve got a unisex Campfire Hoodie too.
Photos of Texas-themed apparel
Photos of Lone Star Roots mugs and tumblers
And then there are the coasters with hometown names like Frisco, Prosper, McKinney and Texas Home on them.
“When kids go off to college, it can be exciting and nervous for them to have this kind of independence,” she said. “For parents, you want to hear from your kids, and because there is this new-found independence, sometimes kids aren’t calling their parents back like we wish they would. These gift boxes can be a great way to hear from your kids.”
Carrie mentioned that many of the items they can put in a gift box can be useful for their students.
“The mugs can be used when they are staying up late studying,” she said. “It’s a way to have a piece of home with them.”
You can get 10 percent off your Lone Star Roots order through Aug. 15 when you use the code HOMESICK.
While your little ones may not be heading to college anytime soon, Lone Star Roots has some options for them, as well.
Carrie recommended the Texas Roundup Number Book, Diary of A Texas Kid Book and Texas L is for Lone Star Alphabet Book.
Supporting local teachers
Lone Star Roots is doing its part to support the community, and this month that includes teachers.\
Here are gift baskets that Lone Star Roots has donated
At the Frisco ISD New Teacher Welcome event, they donated a Lone Star Roots Texas-themed door prize basket for the event, which includes a Texas hat, T-shirt, shareable Texas two-step popcorn, school supplies and gift cards for Starbucks and Texas Roadhouse.
Carrie is a former first grade/kindergarten teacher and they have several family members who are teachers, making it an easy decision to get involved in events like this Frisco one.
“It was an honor and a privilege to teach for 10 years,” she said. “We appreciate what all our teachers do to impact the lives of kids.”
In addition to the Frisco ISD event, Lone Star Roots has donated two Texas-themed baskets for an upcoming Celina Chamber of Commerce New Teacher Breakfast.
The Celina Lone Star Roots co-ed softball team helped contribute towards the gift cards that went into the Celina ISD gift baskets.
Teachers receive 10 percent off online orders with the code HERO or just show your badge at Frisco Mercantile or a pop up event.
Texas is more than just a place people live, it’s seriously a way of life that people not only feel passionate about but want to show off.
Also worth noting, Lone Star Roots is donating new Lone Star Roots T-shirts and Target gift cards to the Frisco Threads, an organization that offers free clothes.
“Every child deserves new clothes and supplies to start their year off right,” Carrie said. “If we can help make that a little easier for students and their families, we are most humbled.”