SUDBURY -- A fundraising supper in a Greater Sudbury community has come under fire on social media.

The Valley East Lions Club is hosting a 'Hobo Supper' at the end of March, something they have done for the past 18 years.

Posts on Facebook express disappointment and shock about the theme of the event.

"It’s not meant to hurt anybody, it’s not meant to be insulting towards anybody. The definition of hobo comes back from the Red Skeleton days, back in the 1920’s when they used to travel the trains, it’s just a big costume party." said Valley East Lions Club Member Bob Lachance.

The co-chair of the supper echoes those feelings.

"These people that are homeless and destitute they are not hobos. A hobo is from the old term from the Red Skelton years, where you put make up on and a big red nose and you are dressed with a bag over your shoulder." said Jeanne Lachance.

The club put a poster on Facebook, it received 300 comments before it was taken down.

Many posts are critical of the theme “Hobo.”

Cassandra Schlosser wrote: "I’m disappointed that no one noticed how distasteful this was before promoting it. And also, there are thousands of other themes they could choose from."

Neil Shyminsky added: "Yikes. Just shockingly clueless."

Members of the club which is made up of 32 volunteers say the supper has been going on for 18 years and there has never been back lash like this.

"It’s a lot of work to put in and people should come and see how we do it so that way they would realize how much fun it is and the money we do make it goes towards the citizens," said co-chair Andrea Beaulieu.

The Valley East Lions Club has been raising money for local initiatives for the past 53 years.

"Our motto is to serve, we are here to help and to serve our communities and that is what we do best," said Jeanne Lachance.

Some Support 

Other posts on facebook support the event.

Joel De Chevigny said: "I think people take everything out of context now days and make it bigger than it really is. Everyone always offended about something. May as well live in a bubble."

Don Boulton said: "That dinner is the best party that I've been to, it's just a fun dinner, go and enjoy."

Valley East Lions members say some of the funds raised by the Hobo Supper actually go to the foodbank to help the homeless.