From the street it looks like any other warehouse. Inside, Fran Held has created a community of volunteers that care deeply about the families and individuals they serve, 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Each month more than 1,000 volunteers sort, pack and deliver customized care packages – from a hundred different types of items — that government assistance does not always provide. As Fran says, “Crises, illness, serious circumstances can happen to any family, and they might not really be able to find many avenues for assistance. We want to be the place that says yes and be able to help you through that tough time.”
The pandemic presented extraordinary challenges. By distributing clothing, more than two million diapers, nearly a half million personal hygiene products and tens of thousands of dollars in supermarket gift cards, Mitzvah Circle empowered many people to move forward. Our funds help underwrite staff salaries.