Montgomery County House Dems Announce $3M in Funding for Mitzvah Circle

HARRISBURG, Oct. 31 – Pennsylvania House Democrats in Montgomery County presented a check for $3 million to Mitzvah Circle Foundation to expand its critical services delivering immediate needs to vulnerable families.

In partnership with more than 300 local organizations, MCF provides donated and purchased goods such as clothing, shoes, diapers, toiletries, period supplies, housewares and more – including many items not covered by food stamps or other safety net programs – to individuals and families in need. Families who can’t obtain these critical items become entrenched deeper in crisis. By providing a full array of life's essentials, MCF helps families to begin to break the cycle of crisis and poverty.

“Mitzvah Circle is honored to receive this funding. It allows us to continue serving the most vulnerable families in Montgomery County,” said Fran Held, founder and director of MCF.

The Montgomery County legislators, including Sens. Amanda Cappelletti, Maria Collett, Art Haywood, Vincent Hughes and Katie Muth, as well as Reps. Matt Bradford, Tim Briggs, Joe Ciresi, Mary Jo Daley, Pam DeLissio, Nancy Guenst, Liz Hanbidge, Steve Malagari, Napoleon Nelson, Ben Sanchez, Melissa Shusterman, Greg Vitali, and Joe Webster, worked with the Wolf administration to help deliver the funds, which originate from American Rescue Plan Act funding. 

“Mitzvah Circle reaches into every corner of Montgomery County, and it is great that as a delegation – House and Senate – we were able to work together to secure these funds,” said Bradford, D-Montgomery.

Mitzvah Circle Foundation is the only organization of its kind in southeastern Pennsylvania that meets the material needs of whole families. A critical void exists for those seeking basic necessities. By providing immediate relief to struggling families, MCF is able to fill a huge unmet need without barriers or bureaucracy.

“While Mitzvah Circle fills in the gap, we know that the pandemic widened the gap,” said Hanbidge, D-Montgomery. “We know that a lot of people who were on the edge of security, lost their sense of security, and we know that a lot of people who had never asked for help were reaching out.

“So, we’re privileged to be able to help. Mitzvah Circle does so much to help all of us, and we’re grateful to lend a hand in turn.”

"This investment will help to expand the reach and capacity that Mitzvah Circle can offer the people of Montgomery County, and I am proud to have assisted with the grant request,” said Webster, D-Montgomery. “We are incredibly blessed to have such an extraordinary non-profit, right in our backyard, that strives to meet the needs of every family swiftly and fill any gaps from unexpected hardship."

Mitzvah Center volunteer drivers deliver thousands of personalized boxes of essentials directly to the doors of medically fragile and food-insecure families across Montgomery County. Through careful assessment and with a keen focus on relationship-building, Mitzvah Circle promptly determines the needs of families to deliver individualized assistance.

“We are just so thankful that we can help you further with your venture. It’s a real honor to be able to help the helpers,” said Guenst, D-Montgomery.