Sales of Halloween Bracelets and Pumpkins Raise Money for Montana’s Shodair Children’s Hospital

For residents completing their shopping at Spirit Halloween on West 24th Street, many will also help support Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena, the state's only children's hospital.

Shoppers at the Halloween specialty store, located at 521 24th St. W., can purchase a bracelet or a pumpkin or simply make a donation to support the Spirit of Children program.

Spirit of Children is a program that brings fun and funding to hospitals at Halloween and all year long.  The program's mission is to make hospital stays less scary for children and their families.

The program started in 2006 with 11 hospitals with the belief that a great holiday should do great good. Since that first Halloween party in 2006, Spirit of Children has raised more than $22 million in cash and merchandise donations and has partnered with more than 130 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada.

Last year, Spirit Halloween in Montana donated more than $3,000 to Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena, said Luane Simpson, operator of Spirit Halloween in Billings. She and her husband also operate a store in Bozeman.

"They do such good work," Simpson said. "It's the only children's hospital in Montana. We are happy to help them."

All money collected goes directly to the hospitals and local donations stay local, Simpson said.