No, it’s not another ’80s movie; The Supper Club is a new initiative to offer free home-cooked meals to those in need in Gravenhurst every Friday evening starting April 4.

The Supper Club is an offshoot of the popular Out of the Cold program that has run in Bracebridge since November 2006, offering hot nutritious meals and warm accommodation to those in poverty.

Valerie Ceschia volunteered in the Out of the Cold program and saw the need for such a project in Gravenhurst. She said Out of the Cold agreed to help fund the trial period for The Supper Club.

Ceschia teamed up with Jeanne Tucker, family services director for the Salvation Army in Gravenhurst, and has managed to attract a handful of volunteers to help with cooking and cleanup, but says more volunteers are needed.

“It’s not just about people needing meals,” said Ceschia. “The Supper Club is there for the social side of it too.”

Every Friday, The Supper Club will open with a social hour at 5 p.m. at Gravenhurst Salvation Army Church, with dinner starting at 6 p.m.

Ceschia said she expects the good turnout in Brace­bridge will be replicated in Gravenhurst.

Out of the Cold ran three nights a week in the basement of Knox Presbyterian Church for five months. During the 60 nights the program operated, 228 meals were served to groups ranging in size from one to 12.

Due to the success of the program, Out of the Cold expanded this winter to run seven nights a week at three different churches in Bracebridge, but dropped the overnight accommodation as it was not well used.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or lend financial support to the initiative is asked to contact Ceschia at 641-0293 or 687-2243.