It all started about 8 years ago when the couple moved to Ballito from Johannesburg, already sharing a passion to help those in need however they could.
Ballito husband and wife team Mark and Alice De La Porte believe that while they are breathing, they can show someone God’s love by serving as His vessels.
It all started about 8 years ago when the couple moved to Ballito from Johannesburg, already sharing a passion to help those in need however they could.
Today the couple – with the help of Joshua Baker and Yvonne Halley – run Matthew 25:35, a local non-profit organisation (NPO) which feeds the hungry.
With the vision in mind, the couple want to be God’s hands and gloves, doing His will through Matthew 25:35.
The name is taken from a Bible verse which reads: “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink.”
The NPO has been helping the communities of Ballito, Tongaat, Westbrook, Umhlanga, Glen Ashley, Queensburgh and Bellair, and had been registered since September 2018.
“We have always had a heart for the less privileged. It is a very humbling job, especially when we see the joy in people’s eyes when they receive something they genuinely need,” said Alice.The Covid-19 pandemic saw Matthew 25:35 branch out, adding two new assistants, Priscilla Cook and Matthew Grobler.
Their main work is providing food parcels to families that have no source of income.
“We also have soup kitchens and often drop off essential items for those in need. A typical day for us includes preparing a big pot of food to feed between 100-150 people, collect surplus food, make food parcels and deliver to those who need them,” said Alice.
While they have been able to aid a great number of people in need, there have been some they have been unable to help.
“A lot of what we do is funded from our own pockets and while we get help from supermarkets, overhead costs like fuel, transport and other necessities are not donated,” she explained.
Items such as toiletries, sanitary pads and baby goods are not commonly donated and any added assistance from the community would be greatly appreciated.
The long-term goal of Matthew 25:35 is to have a self-sustaining farm where they are able to feed people off the land, all while educating the underprivileged on how to farm successfully.
To find out how you can help Matthew 25:35, see matthew2535.co.za or contact 032 586 1197/061 483 4568.
The original article “Serving as God’s vessels on Earth, the team at Matthew 25:35 is here to make a difference” first appeared in northcoastcourier.co.za. To view the original article please click HERE.