VALDOSTA – QUOLA, a Valdosta non-profit organization, has opened its doors to continue serving local individuals who are in need of a hot meal.

Quality of Life Association (QUOLA) had been planning to start a food pantry or soup kitchen for the past three months, according to Erica Miller, a QUOLA board member. The organization saw the need for more hot meal options when residents would come to their location seeking food on a frequent basis.

When QUOLA saw the public outcry last week on social media following the closure of the longtime Community Soup Kitchen, located at 601 N. Lee St. in the old Leila Ellis Elementary School, Miller said they knew they had to provide assistance.

The QUOLA Community Soup Kitchen officially opened Tuesday, Dec. 26, at 115 E. Florida Ave. It will serve daily meals Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several attendees shared appreciation and compliments after receiving their meals.

“They were happy and smiling and really enjoyed the food,” Miller said in an interview Wednesday.

There was a line of meal recipients waiting at the entrance this morning.

Miller said she’s excited to share her passion for cooking with those in need at QUOLA and is looking forward to sharing her passion as the need grows everyday. She was also surprised at quickly receiving volunteers. The volunteer team included Miller, Sofia Holmes, Oceana Gentry and Rebecca James Wednesday morning.

“It feels great to be able to help out with something as dear as this being that a lot of people, even working people, nowadays can’t even afford a good quality meal,” Gentry said.

Azerlene Williams, a longtime member of the QUOLA staff, agreed. “Just having the idea of being able to help somebody because everyone needs someone sometimes is great. We’re glad we were able to step in and be able to have somewhere for somebody to go. As long as we’re needed we’ll be here.”

QUOLA is working with the City of Valdosta and Lowndes County government to provide the assistance, but is seeking the community’s help with donations.

“We don’t have a GoFundMe, and we don’t plan on opening one. We would like direct donations to go to our non-profit organization to prevent scams and for security purposes,” Miller said.

Interested contributors can contact the QUOLA Community Soup Kitchen hotline at 229-539-3601 for more donation information.