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How To Make A Roadside Emergency Gift Basket For A Teen Car Owner

by Jacob Scott

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a teenager who has just purchased their first, new-to-them car, then you can easily make a roadside safety gift basket.

Step 1: The Basket

You will need to purchase a large basket for this project. People often donate large baskets to thrift stores because the baskets are bulky to store. This is a wonderful place to find an inexpensive basket.

If you cannot find a large basket, then you can purchase an inexpensive plastic crate. The teen can then place the crate in their trunk to hold all of their emergency supplies in one place.

Step 2: The Main Gift

You will want to have a main gift in your basket. One good option is a pair of jumper cables. Dead batteries are a common problem with older cars, and this gift will allow the teen to jump start their car when their battery is dead.

Another option is a portable battery jump box. The jump box can be kept in the trunk and will be able to be used for jump starting the battery - without having to interact with a stranger to find another car to connect the jumper cables.

A membership to a roadside assistance club is also a wonderful option. You can pledge to renew the membership each year as a birthday gift.

Step 3: Filler Gift Items

Once you have the container and main gift, you need to have some filler gift items for the basket. Some good options include:

  • emergency flares
  • emergency flashlight
  • can of flat tire repair material
  • tire gauge
  • bottle of windshield wiper fluid
  • quart of oil
  • bottle of antifreeze

Rather than car items, you can also choose to purchase personal comfort items that are meant to be used if the teen is trapped in their car in a bad storm. Some items in this category include:

  • a blanket
  • gloves
  • hat
  • rain poncho
  • bottled water
  • snack food

In addition, a roll of toilet paper can come in very handy!

Step 4: Wrapping

To finish your roadside emergency gift basket, you should wrap the whole thing in a cellophane gift wrap and tie the top using a ribbon bow.

You should attach your card to the bow using a stapler or paperclip. Inside of your card, you can provide one additional gift that will be appreciated for years to come - a listing of local roadside assistance and tow truck companies, such as Airport Towing, to contact at the time of an emergency.

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