Mega Doctor News
A hospital stay can be a stressful, nerve-wracking experience for any patient, most especially children. Along with being filled with people they don’t know, the unfamiliar environment can be filled with perplexing conversations between parents and staff, alarming sounds from medical devices and more.
Since 2006, the Spirit of Children initiative has been making hospitals less scary for children and their families. It started with Halloween parties in 11 hospitals nationwide. Today, the initiative has grown to support more than 150 facilities nationwide, including South Texas Health System Children’s in Edinburg.
Every year, a portion of proceeds from the sale of Halloween costumes, accessories and décor from Spirit Halloween Stores goes to funding uplifting experiences in children’s hospitals through the Child Life Departments within those hospitals.
Since 2018, Spirit of Children has donated nearly $260,000 to the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System, which is used to support the services provided by STHS Children’s Child Life program to the pediatric patients in its care, including patient, sibling and family support services, sensory equipment and patient-focused resources like therapy programming, toys, crafts and art supplies.
In 2023, Spirit of Children raised $63,187 locally through five Spirit Halloween stores in Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco and McAllen – a 10% increase from the previous year.
As the ghoulishly spooktacular season approaches, Spirit Halloween is set to open its five stores across the Rio Grande Valley, with a portion of proceeds benefiting STHS Children’s Child Life program.
To help get this year’s Spirit of Children initiative underway, a special ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 5, at 10:00 a.m. at the Spirit Halloween store located at 1801 S. 10th Street in McAllen.
STHS Children’s, the Auxiliary to STHS and Spirit Halloween invite the community to take part in the ceremony and learn more about this fangtastic partnership and get an early start on Halloween shopping.
For more information on the Spirit of Halloween initiative, find a Spirit Halloween store near you and gain access to a coupon to save 10% on your entire order, visit STHSChidlrens.com.
| Who: | South Texas Health System Children’s, The Auxiliary to STHS & Spirit Halloween |
| What: | Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for Spirit Halloween Stores |
| When: | Thursday, September 5, 2024, 10:00 a.m. |
| Where: | Spirit Halloween McAllen 1801 S. 10th St. McAllen, TX 78503 |
