Along the quiet inpatient corridors, with many doors closed against the threat of influenza, the spirit of Halloween rolls its cart of gift bags, making stops – suitably gowned in a hospital mask – along the way.

The visit to Hopkins Children’s by employees from national retailer Spirit Halloween was more subdued than in years before, when patients well enough for the trek could visit a hospital playroom to try on and keep new costumes, donated by Spirit. Given strict infection-control protections now in place at Hopkins Children’s, with the H1N1 flu prevalent in the community, new costumes will still be handed out, but by Child Life. And the retailer’s annual playroom parties have transformed this year into gift bags with wigs, wands, coloring books and other assorted Halloween goodies.

“I like to call this reverse trick or treating,” says Spirit Halloween employee Bill Dove, who accompanied colleagues Leslie Wendorf and Kyle Helvie to Hopkins Children’s, Oct. 20. “We’re bringing Halloween to them. It’s just so nice to be able to do something for these kids.”

Dove and Helvie accompany Child Life specialist Annie Woods Beatson into 11-year-old Syed’s room on the pediatric oncology unit. Celebrating his birthday that day, Syed carefully examines each of the items the two men pull out of the bags for him.

“This is really great, thank you,” he says each time.

Launched in 2006, the retailer's “Spirit of Children” program delivers Halloween treats to local hospitals – more than 75 of them this year – around the country. Funds raised in the stores are donated to the hospitals’ Child Life departments.

Through October 31, every purchase of a Halloween bag translates into a $2 donation to Hopkins Children’s. And additional donations can be made at checkout.