For many children, Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year. It represents fall weather, spooky decorations, dress-up, and most importantly, candy. During this time, people throughout North America and parts of Europe scramble to prepare their houses for one of Halloween’s signature activities - trick or treating. This event offers children the chance to hop from house to house, collecting as much candy as their bags can carry and ultimately leaving them with feelings of joy and excitement for the following year. But what about the children who do not have the chance to participate?
By this, I mean the population of children who rely on constant medical supervision. These children, who rarely ever get to leave their hospital settings or engage in normal, daily activities, deserve the opportunity to partake and create new memories in this highly anticipated form of entertainment.
Fortunately, at Children’s Hospital, the staff and generous volunteers work to give these hospitalized children a Halloween experience that they will never forget. To celebrate the occasion, the hospital organizes a trick-or-treating parade for its young population to safely enjoy. Sponsors of the event gather at various points throughout the hospital and set up booths in preparation. Children arrive in their festive costumes and are greeted by familiar characters like Snow White, Captain America, and Mickey Mouse. At this point, every stand has been decorated with fun, interactive games for the children to play with and buckets of candy for them to collect. All that’s left is for the volunteers to sit back and smile at the children’s laughter and amazement.
Even the pandemic could not discourage Children’s Hospital from giving their children a Halloween experience. Although the parade was canceled, the hospital’s sponsors came together to create little goody bags for the children, each one containing candy, small toys, and a few Halloween-themed books. These contributions were then distributed to the children on Halloween to engage them in the holiday season. Even though the parade was not a part of the experience, the hospital’s commitment to their children’s safety and happiness shines through.
No matter the celebration, holidays symbolize unity and new memories for all those involved. That is why it is so important for everybody to get a chance to participate in the unique experiences that each holiday offers.
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