Community urged to help Mitzvah Circle replace clothing, diapers, baby gear lost in trailer fire

A fire that tore through trailers and damaged a sheet metal building at Mitzvah Circle in Montgomery Township Tuesday afternoon destroyed two truckloads of donations, leaving the Montgomery County nonprofit in urgent need of help.

The blaze, which remains under investigation by the Fire Department of Montgomery Township and the township fire marshal, ruined the tractor trailer and consumed large quantities of new clothing, diapers, and baby gear earmarked for individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness, illness, and other crises.

Montgomery Township Supervisor Beth Staab called the loss “heartbreaking” and urged the community to step in.

“Our hearts are broken to see the damage to the storage trailer and building at our beloved Mitzvah Circle,” Staab said. “Despite the quick response by our firefighters, a lot of donations were destroyed. Let’s lift them up during their time of need.”

    By James Short   

    (Credit: Mitzvah Circle/Facebook)
  

    (Credit: Mitzvah Circle/Facebook)
  

Mitzvah Circle’s team thanked supporters for the outpouring of concern and said every contribution will make a difference.

“Our building is damaged, and our tractor trailer is ruined along with so many new items,” the organization said in a statement. “Many of you have asked how to help — as we lost two truckloads of new clothing, diapers and baby gear. Feel free to donate and know every dollar will make a difference.”

How to help

Monetary donations can be made through the nonprofit’s secure link at donorbox.org/mc_quick, with options to give one-time, monthly, quarterly, or annually. Contribution levels show the direct impact of each gift:

• $1,000: Prevents 25 girls and women from missing school or work this year because they could not afford menstrual products.
• $500: Creates 10 personalized care packages with clothing, toiletries, and children’s books for entire families.
• $250: Ensures 17 babies will have clean diapers this month.
• $100: Provides shampoo for 10 families for a year.
• $50: Supplies essential items for one family.

Clothing donations that meet Mitzvah Circle’s guidelines can be dropped off on Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 435 Doylestown Road (GPS: Lansdale), or by appointment. 

A list of needed items is available at mitzvahcircle.org/donate-items.

The organization also accepts volunteers, applications for assistance, and general inquiries by email at [email protected], by calling 215-828-6647 for help, or 267-649-7610 for volunteering.