Here’s exactly how to make a delivery driver snack basket to set out on the front porch as a thank you to those working hard to deliver your Christmas packages this holiday season! Download the printable free delivery driver snack sign to make it even easier!
If you are like me, I do all my Christmas shopping online to avoid the holiday chaos in stores. Online Christmas shopping means multiple packages are always delivered to the front porch, so I’m very grateful for those special individuals working long, hard hours outside in the cold during the busiest season.
To show our appreciation, we’ve made it a yearly tradition to set out a basket of snacks for delivery drivers of UPS, USPS, FedEx, Amazon, or anyone else who stops by with a delivery. I’ll also include individuals who stop to drop off Walmart+ orders, Instacart orders, and even the pizza delivery person.
It’s a small but meaningful gesture that helps spread holiday cheer during a stressful season. If you want to make your own delivery driver snack basket at home, we have some tips and ideas to help you get started.
This post provides a step-by-step guide to creating a delivery driver snack basket!
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Delivery Driver Thank You Basket
What you’ll need
These are the exact supplies I used when creating my delivery driver snack basket:
- A basket, container, cart, large cooler, or box
- Red velvet ribbon 5/8 inch or other holiday ribbons
- Non-perishable snacks and drinks
- A delivery driver snack sign
- Scissors
- Clear Sheet Protector (you can get a pack of 25 for less than $3 at Target!)
- Plastic cups
Optional:
- Hole punch (if not using a sheet protector)
- Cardstock
Delivery driver basket or cart
When I first started doing this holiday tradition, I took a giant Amazon box, covered it in holiday wrapping paper, taped a thank you sign on the front, and filled it with snacks. It wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing design, but it got the job done.
Since then, I’ve upgraded to this beautiful woven basket with a plaid liner that I can reuse yearly. It’s large enough to carry all the snacks, Christmas-themed, and has handles to make it easier to carry.
I’ve also seen others use a three-tier rolling cart like this one. They’ll put snacks on the first tier, bigger snacks like chips on the second tier, and drinks on the bottom tier. If you have the storage space, then this would also be a great idea to offer a wide variety of snacks.
How To Make A Delivery Driver Thank You Basket
It’s so easy to assemble a basket of snacks for delivery drivers. I’ve seen extravagant displays of snack baskets, but I’m here to show you my simple and easy way to assemble a delivery driver thank you basket filled with snacks and refreshments in just 3 easy steps!
Step 1. Choose a basket.
When choosing your container, cart, box, or basket, consider the space it will take up on your porch and where you will be putting it outside. I like using a decent-sized basket like the one listed above because it doesn’t take up too much space, holds just enough snacks, and is easy to carry in and out daily.
I’ll put the basket on a small outdoor table by the front door, to the side, so it’s not in the way of deliveries but is also visible for anyone who comes to the door to drop off packages.
Step 2. Stock your basket with treats for delivery drivers.
Once you gather your treats, arrange them nicely in your basket. I like to use plastic cups to keep trail mixes, beef jerky, and other smaller snacks together so it doesn’t get lost in the basket. I use them to organize the snacks so it’s easy for the driver to grab what they want.
We like to stock our baskets with mini cans of soda, various chips, energy drinks, different flavors of Gatorade, brownies and/or muffins, protein bars, candy, and water.
Last year, Little Debbie Brownies, mini muffins, and chips were popular snacks.
For drinks, our delivery drivers always tend to grab soda and energy drinks.
Water bottles were barely touched, so I don’t usually put many bottles out. They may be grabbed more if paired with water flavor packets, but I assume it’s because they already have water in their delivery trucks.
It really is trial and error to determine what types of snacks are grabbed the most because the choices vary each year.
If you get a chance to talk with your delivery drivers, ask them what snacks they like so you can remember them the next time you go grocery shopping. This way, you don’t waste money on snacks that sit there all month and buy the food they actually would grab.
Though I’m sure they are just happy with whatever you put in your baskets, stocking up on their favorite snacks goes the extra mile, and they’ll appreciate the thoughtfulness in your gesture.
Step 3. Make a sign and tie it to the basket.
You can create a homemade sign with markers and paper or type your thank you sign in large font in a Word document and print it out.
Or, to make it even easier for you, print out the free delivery driver snack basket sign printables that I’ve provided at the bottom of this post. You have two designs to choose from.
Option 1
- Once you pick your design, place it in a clear plastic sheet protector.
- Cut the ribbon to your desired length and thread it through the corner holes in the sheet protector.
- Tie the ribbons to your basket, but don’t tie them too tight. This will allow you to adjust the sign as needed.
- Keeping it in the sheet protector protects your design and can be reused for next year.
Option 2
- If you are not using the clear sheet protector and are printing it on cardstock paper, you will need to hole-punch the top corners to tie it to the basket.
- Cut the ribbon to your desired length and thread it through the holes you made.
- Tie the ribbons to your basket.
Now, you are ready to place your basket outside!
Best Snacks For Delivery Drivers
The main characters of the snack basket are the snacks! The best snacks for delivery drivers are easy to eat on the go, are not messy, and provide quick fuel for their shift on the road.
Here are some popular snack ideas for delivery drivers to include in your baskets:
Food options
- Beef jerky: Slim Jim, Jack Link’s Jerky
- Protein bars: Clif Bars, RXBAR, Quest Bars
- Granola bars: Nature Valley Granola Bars, Kind Bars, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
- Fresh fruit: Anything that won’t spoil quickly, like bananas
- Candy: Skittles, Airheads, anything in an individual package
- Individually wrapped cookies: mini Oreos, mini Chips Ahoy
- Chocolate bars: Snickers, Twix, and other individually wrapped chocolate
- Mixed nuts or trail mix
- Individual bags of chips: Any chips will work! This is a very popular and easy option to include in your baskets.
- Crackers: Ritz, Goldfish, Pretzel crisps
- Sweet tooth treats: Little Debbie Brownies, Rice Krispies, mini muffins
- Packages of gum or mints
Drink options
- Water bottles
- Gatorade or Powerade
- Energy drinks: Alani Nu, Red Bull, Monster, Bang Energy, Celsius
- Mini soda cans
- Drink mixes: Powdered electrolyte packets, Mio, Crystal Light
- Protein drinks: CorePower, Premier Protein
- Iced Tea: Arizona Iced Tea, Honest Tea, Snapple
- Flavored water: Vitamin Water, Sparkling Ice, LaCroix
Cold drinks
Most of these drinks are best served cold! Setting up a mini outdoor refrigerator can be a thirst-quenching treat. Another option is to keep the drinks cold in a cooler next to your snack baskets.
Hot drinks
Including hot drink options such as instant coffee or tea is a thoughtful gesture to keep drivers warm on their long winter shifts. You’ll have to give them access to hot water by either setting out a small thermos filled with hot water or having a portable kettle ready for easy pouring.
Other Delivery Driver Snack Basket Ideas
Tips and other things to consider
- To satisfy every craving, include snacks in various flavors, such as sweet, salty, and savory options.
- Include gluten-free or vegan options for those with different dietary preferences or restrictions.
- Providing individually wrapped snacks is easier so drivers can grab what they want and go.
- Bring the snack basket or coolers inside each night so the nighttime critters don’t come for your goodies.
- Be mindful of the weather outside. Bring in any snacks that might melt in warmer weather (yes, I know it’s winter, but we still have hot afternoons here in Arizona, even during the winter months!).
- Provide wipes or napkins to keep things mess-free.
- Avoid anything perishable, and keep in mind expiration dates.
Keep it budget-friendly
Creating a snack basket does not have to be expensive. You can still show appreciation while keeping costs down. Use these tips to keep things budget-friendly:
- Buy things in bulk at Costco or Sam’s Club.
- Get the mini versions of drinks and snacks.
- Choose more cost-effective options, such as buying store brands instead of name brands.
- Take advantage of any seasonal sales or discounts. Check out your weekly ads. Use store coupons to save a little money.
- Set a budget and stick to it so you can prioritize exactly what you want (and what snacks and drinks your delivery drivers like) in your snack baskets.
- Use what you already have. Check your pantry for snacks you can include for your delivery drivers (check expiration dates first!).
- Remember, you don’t have to include all the snacks on this list. Mix and match snack options, rotate different snacks and drinks every few weeks, and buy the treats you know your delivery drivers will most likely grab.
Free Printable Delivery Driver Snack Sign
Have the kids make a handwritten sign thanking delivery drivers for their hard work, or you can print out these signs I made for you to make it easier.
The first printable is a black-and-white sign. It’s simple, easy, and ready to go.
Get the kids involved in putting together your snack baskets by printing out the second design, having them color it in, placing it in the sheet protector, and tying it to the basket.
The printable will be emailed to you as a PDF file and can be printed on standard letter-size paper, 8.5 x 11″.
Both designs are also available in half-page format, so you can print them out and fold the paper in half. Hang the folded paper on the side of your basket, hole-punch the top corners, or put it in a clear sheet protector and tie it with a ribbon to the basket.
Thank You Delivery Drivers!
A simple act of kindness, such as putting together a snack basket for delivery drivers, can go a long way toward showing appreciation for your community’s hardworking delivery drivers. After all, they are out there braving the lousy weather and chaotic traffic just to bring us our much-needed holiday gifts and essentials.
Let’s continue to spread holiday cheer and show gratitude to those who go above and beyond to make our lives easier during this busy holiday season—one snack basket at a time!
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