The retail chain partners with the hospital to bring some autumnal cheer to patients and their families
Photo: Courtesy Texas Children's Hospit
“When you’re in the hospital, missing out on trick-or-treating can be devastating,” says Mary Tietjens, assistant director of clinical support services and the lead at the Child Life program. “Those are some essential childhood memories. It can be isolating to miss out. Their support has just meant so much over the years. They’re so passionate. Even during the pandemic, how much money they raised was astounding.
According to Tietjens, the money raised goes to “normalizing the scary environment a hospital can be.” Board games, art projects and video game consoles are some of the things the Spirit money helps buy, as well as other amenities to try to make long-term care for children more fun and bearable. Beyond the money raised, local Spirit stores also throw a full Halloween carnival and party event at TCH every year. Costumes are provided for both patients and siblings because parents busy with an ill child sometimes don’t have the time or money to get brothers and sisters their own outfits. Even babies in the neonatal intensive care unit get tiny Halloween ensembles to drape across them so their parents can take pictures. There isn’t pumpkin carving, but Spirit provides pumpkin painting kits.