By Jessica Dillon
The Operation Spiritseeker Paranormal Team (OSPT) hosted a Holiday Extravaganza to collect donations for Carilion Children’s Hospital and residents of Stanleytown Health and Rehab.
After the event, the group sorted the donated items and delivered them to both locations.
Team owners Rachel Kirchner and Mickey Lefler helped organize the effort. Kirchner said the team delivered gifts to the children’s hospital on Christmas Eve.
“We delivered the children’s gifts Christmas Eve, and they were so excited,” Kirchner said. “We heard from the staff because we weren’t allowed in the children’s ward. The charity volunteers hadn’t passed along what she and I had talked about, so we were only able to drop the box off. They said next year, if we do it again, they’ll get things straight and prepare for us to come.”
Kirchner said there were about 25 pediatric patients at the time, and donations included coloring books, baby dolls, remote-control cars, puzzles and other toys.
The team also delivered donations to Stanleytown Health and Rehab, where they were invited inside to visit with residents.
“They had Santa Claus there with a movie and chocolate,” Kirchner said.
The organization selected 19 residents from the facility’s angel tree and worked with a coordinator to arrange the visit. While the group was not given specific item requests, they gathered gifts they believed would be helpful and comforting.
The team prepared gift bags with candy and Christmas cards for all residents. Kirchner also crocheted lap throws for residents, while the group provided throw blankets and toiletry items for men.
“I talked with multiple residents for a while,” Kirchner said. “Several of them talked to us for a few minutes and thanked us. They were really happy that somebody came and spent a few minutes with them.”
She said it was especially meaningful to see residents’ reactions.
“It was really nice — the patients that were coherent, it was nice to see the smiles on their faces when you walked in and they realized what we were doing,” she said.
The team plans to shift its focus back to paranormal investigations, including cryptid research, while continuing its holiday outreach efforts.
“We are going to mix it up a little,” Kirchner said.
She said the group plans to continue hosting Christmas fundraisers in the future.
“It was a good success for being a first-time or trial run,” Kirchner said. “We plan to work on it throughout the year, and next year we’re planning to use a professional decorator for both decorating and snacks.”
