Granny Basketball fundraising game set for Saturday at Eastminster church in support of local Out Of The Cold program
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
The Granny Basketball League and Toronto Chill are welcoming the community to attend a fundraising game against the Out Of The Cold Foundation Volunteers team this Saturday.
“We wanted to make sure to give back to this fantastic group and show them that we are with them in their fight against poverty, homelessness and isolation in the East End of our city,” Vicky Merrick, coach, organizer, and founder of Toronto Chill said in a news release.
The game is set for Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m. at Eastminster United Church (310 Danforth Ave.)
Tickets will be $5 at the door, and there will also be a Canada Helps online donation site where supporters can donate more and receive a Canadian charitable tax receipt. Funds raised during the event will go towards the Out Of The Cold Foundation (OOTC), which is completely run by volunteers at the church.
Founded in January 2024, Toronto Chill is Canada’s first and only team in the Granny Basketball League so far. Merrick said there are about 50 to 60 teams regularly running Granny Basketball tournaments in the United States, and she is happy to see Canada contribute to the league, which started back in 2005.
All Toronto Chill’s members are aged 50 and older, with a shared goal to emphasize the value of team spirit, camaraderie, and friendly competition. Every Thursday night, the team gathers at Eastminster Church for practice.
In the news release, Merrick expressed her and the team’s appreciation for the opportunity they have been given at Eastminster by staff and volunteers, and commended the Out Of The Cold program volunteers, who have served the city’s most vulnerable for more than 30 years out of the same church.
“We are still in the process of growing our team and growing the game of Granny Basketball in Toronto and other Canadian cities. This, our second charity game with OOTC, will showcase Granny Basketball to more people. It will give us this unique opportunity to not only have some ‘serious fun’, but to raise much-needed funds for them as well – it’s a win-win!!” said Merrick.
The Out Of The Cold Foundation was founded in 1987 as an interfaith program striving to respond to basic physical needs of shelter, food and warm clothing for the less fortunate.
Acting as an umbrella organization, the Out Of The Cold Foundation partners with agencies, churches, synagogues and other groups that provide safe havens, access to financial assistance, food, shelter, and other necessities through its funded projects.
For more information about the Granny Basketball League and Toronto Chill, please go to https://www.grannybasketball.com/t/toronto-chill
For more information about the Out Of The Cold Foundation, please go to https://outofthecold.org
