OF Raiders Annual Smoker Set for Saturday

As Oak Forest Raiders football quickly approaches the end of its season, it's time once again for the annual Oak Forest Raiders Smoker. The event, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Oak Forest Community Center, 15501 S. Kilpatrick Ave., will feature food, drinks and games of chance for adults, 21 and over.

“It's a fundraiser for the program,” said Chuck Toland, Raiders treasurer. “Twenty-five bucks includes food and drink, we have raffles and people sit around and play cards and socialize.”

According to Toland, the event started out as a traditional 'smoker,' an event where adults could get together to play cards, smoke cigars and enjoy food and drinks. However, since smoking is now illegal indoors, the cigar smoking has been removed from the event.

He added that while the event does raise a little bit of money for the Raiders organization, that is not the main purpose of the event.

“We raise a little bit of money here and there, a couple thousand bucks,” Toland said. “In the past, $2,000-$3,000, not that much. It's more of a gathering to close out the season and just get the parents together and give them a night of socializing.”

In addition to the food and fun, there will be a Texas Hold'em tournament kicking off promptly at 7:45 p.m., with sign-in beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by contacting any Raiders coach or board member, or at the door for $25. The cost of the ticket includes food and drinks, including beer, wine and soda.