Use Spirit store coupon to benefit Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Mapp Program

The annual Spirit of Children fundraiser has officially kicked off on the Gulf Coast to help raise money for programs and support at Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

Here is how it works:

When you shop Spirit Halloween stores in the area and use a digital coupon to earn 10% off, the store also makes a 10% donation to the region’s only hospital for children and women. If you shop online, you can support the hospital by using the promo code GIVING26 at checkout for the same 10% discount and donation.

Each year, local Spirit Halloween stores donate a portion of their sales through the Spirit of Children program to support the Mapp Child and Family Life Program at the hospital. The funds come from donations made by shoppers at Spirit Halloween locations in Mobile and Baldwin counties, the Pensacola area, and on SpiritHalloween.com.

This year, the Mapp Program purchased the hospital’s first full-time facility dog because of funding from Spirit of Children. This summer, Rainier (also called Rainy) joined the Mapp Program team at Children’s & Women’s along with primary handler Emma Bryson, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist. The team’s responsibilities include working together with clinical staff to co-treat during medical procedures, physical and occupational therapy sessions, visiting inpatient units and providing emotional support for patients and families navigating complex medical situations.

Since the program started, Spirit of Children has given more than $400,000 in total donations to Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

Studies show that interactions with certified hospital service dogs can help lower stress levels, improve cooperation with treatment, and provide alternative focus during difficult procedures. Researchers also have reported benefits for healthcare professionals, including improved morale, reduced stress, and a greater sense of workplace well-being.

“We are beyond grateful for the incredible support provided by Spirit of Children to our child life program,” said Kim Thompson-Yates, who leads the Mapp Child and Family Life Program at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “This funding, plus annual donations of new costumes and other items, helps ensure our patients and their families have positive experiences throughout the year despite the challenging circumstances they may experience while hospitalized.”

USA Health’s child life specialists provide procedural preparation and support, therapeutic play and other therapeutic activities for pediatric patients receiving hospital and emergency department care. They strive to create a safe, supportive environment for children, their families, and caregivers as they manage the stress of a hospital visit.

In recent years, the Mapp Child and Family Life Program also has used the Spirit of Children donations to fund programs including Beads of Courage and sensory-friendly programming and equipment including tactile toys, light shows, and sound machines in the hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Center (PEC). Spirit of Children funds were also used to purchase a state-of-the-art mobile sensory station available to patients in a dedicated sensory room in the PEC.