Warm Hearts 2025: Meet Mitzvah Circle

An interview with Fran Held—Mitzvah Circle, Founder and Executive Director

Can you tell me about Mitzvah Circle's core mission and who you serve? What makes your approach unique compared to other nonprofits with similar missions to yours?

Mitzvah Circle started in my garage 15 years ago because I recognized that families needed help meeting their basic needs. There was a family in particular—the mom had cancer and was unable to find help with two small children to meet her needs in terms of clothing, baby diapers, and things like that. And so, Mitzvah Circle really started organically. The way that we're different is that we serve the whole family, from infants to the elderly. So many organizations do terrific work, and they're doing one thing, but we happen to do a hundred things. We have over 100 products for families. We also provide coaching, case management, referrals, and lots of other things. But, we try to meet the needs of families in crisis; that's the most important thing.

Mitzvah Circle provides a wide range of items, from diapers to toiletries. What is one item that people are often surprised to learn is a critical need for the individuals and families you support, and why?

One thing that people are always shocked about is soap. And it's funny, when I talk about soap, people are like, "You're talking about soap?!" The reason is that soap is not covered by any kind of government assistance. We've had local families come to us and say, "My three girls were never bathed with soap before bed until I found Mitzvah Circle." Toiletries, personal care items, and all of those hygiene products are so important to families, and there is no way to get them with government assistance. Families have to rely on pantries and organizations like ours to be able to give them the things that they need. But when it's going into the winter time, and you have young children who may be in school or in daycare, soap is critical.

Do you have an impact story you can share?

We have a single mom named Janet who’s been in nursing school for ten years. It actually took her ten years—going class by class—to finish nursing school as a single mom with three kids, two of whom have special needs. Janet wrote us a letter saying she would be nowhere without Mitzvah Circle. Her kids would not have had backpacks and clothes. She would not have had a notebook for school. But because we provided all of those things for her, she is now employed, her kids are doing well, and she feels like her life ten years later is so different. She was so grateful that Mitzvah Circle walked with her. We didn't even know at the beginning that she was in school; she was just asking for things for the whole family. One of the key things I would say: by serving the whole family, you propel everyone forward, because moms and dads need stuff just as much as the kids do.

What's the non-material impact of Mitzvah Circle's work?

Besides giving things to people, and providing coaching, case management, and referrals, what I can tell you from our impact study is that the biggest impact Mitzvah Circle has is that we deliver hope. People feel more hopeful after receiving items, after having spoken with our staff, or even just after getting a winter coat—it could be one of a hundred different things. I actually wear a bracelet every single day that says "delivering hope," because that's what the people have told us is the most important thing they get from us.

How will the funds raised through the Warm Hearts campaign directly support Mitzvah Circle's programs?

There is always so much need in our communities, and you don't realize it until you work at a place like Mitzvah Circle. People don't wear a sign that says, "I don't have pads and tampons today. I can't go to work." Or, "My husband doesn't have gloves. He can't get on a bus and a train and stand outside for three hours." Or, "We're using paper plates because we don't have any dishes for our family." Or even, "My kids haven't been bathed with soap, and I don't want to take them to their checkup at the pediatrician because I'm scared that they're going to think my kids are dirty." Help from this campaign will allow families to get the things that they need in the way that they need them. This means we personalize the care to each family: we speak to them and we ask them. We say, "What do you need? What would make your suffering less?" For me, that's the most important thing. It's not what I want to give; it's what that family needs to move forward and to make them feel like they have the things they need to go to work, go to school, go to the doctor, and do what they need to do.

In addition to purchasing coffee, what is the best way to get involved with Mitzvah Circle, whether through volunteering, donations, or something else?

You can get involved by going to our website and looking at volunteer opportunities, or coming to our events. We have an event on October 30th, 2025 that you could sign up to come to. You could also be a sponsor. And you can simply donate items from your garage and from your own closet—things that you have that you no longer use, and you’re like, “why do I have these pants anyway? Someone could be wearing them.” So, I think there are many ways to get involved, and we need all of them, so don't hesitate. We have a brand new website and we're really happy that it's very clear and easy to get involved, so feel free to contact us.

What is the process for individuals or families to get help from Mitzvah Circle?

Families who need help should go to our website. That is the way to start the whole process; literally, the tab on the website says "get help." You'll see a form, you'll fill it out, and then we'll call you. That's what starts the whole ball rolling. Families can actually get help every three months, but most families only get help once, or once a year. It's like a bridge to self-sufficiency. People aren't asking all the time for things; they are asking for them just when they need it most.

Looking ahead to 2026, what is Mitzvah Circle's biggest goal that you hope to achieve?

In 2025, what I've noticed is that people are asking for so many more things than they needed in 2024. With the cost of food going up, people simply can't afford lots of things. They view us as eviction prevention. They tell us, “If you give me baby diapers and wipes and soap, I can give my landlord $50 this week.” My hope is that things get better for families next year because this year has been very rough. I'm hopeful that for the families that needed four boxes of items before and this year needed eight, that need is a little reduced, and that things become a little easier for them.

The name of our campaign is "Warm Hearts." What does having a warm heart mean to you all at Mitzvah Circle?

I don't think you could work at Mitzvah Circle if you didn't have a warm heart. To me, your heart has to be open for people who need you at the time that they need you most. And warm hearts means just that: that you are open and available for people when times get rough, and that you are there to make things a little easier.