Said kid didn't need to come home, we would visit.  Second, kid's friends were at the same school and could ride back with them. Third, we were parents and as such had supplied kids with clothes.  I looked at what kids were wearing on campus and there's no real need to buy "new" worn clothing when you have worn clothing.  As a matter of fact they still have some clothes left from high school and that was 15 years ago.  Walking on campus was good exercise.  

Presents for us?  Our present was a kid that was going somewhere and amounting to something.  We didn't need more stuff.