Costco’s annual Campaign for Kids, which raises funds for Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, begins next Monday and will be running throughout the month of September.

During this campaign, Costco shoppers will be given the chance to donate to Spirit of the North at the till.

100% of the funds go towards equipment and enhancements to healthcare in pediatrics in the Northern Health region.

“Because Costco services the entire region, a lot of equipment has been purchased for pediatrics, there’s been infant transport incubators, ventilators and thing’s for the smallest patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” says Judy Neiser, CEO for Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.

The campaign may see some changes this year as Costco works through compliance of the Ministry of Health and the protocols put in place by the BC Centre for Disease Control, however, the need and the direction of all funds raised remains the same.

“Children enter healthcare through a variety of ways like emergency, upon childbirth, through emergency transfer so there’s a wide variety of needs in pediatrics,” adds Neiser.

“Prince George is the main birthing center and main hospital so it’s like the Children’s Hospital for the North, most children end up there prior to going down to the hospital in the lower mainland, most of the time they also have follow up care here.”

Throughout 20 years, the campaign has raised over $1-million, with $62,286.07 being raised in 2019.