The School District of Milton is blessed with a generous and supportive community where community members and local businesses often reach out to ask how they can help students in need during hard times. Thanks to the efforts of district social workers Verlene Orr and Sherry Rautenberg, the district now has an app for that!
Called “Purposity,” the app launched on April 9 for the School District of Milton and is available through the App Store and Google Play. Purposity makes sure that families with legitimate needs are connected with those who want to help quickly and confidentially.
For example, if a Red Hawk student had worn through her shoes and her family cannot afford to provide her new sneakers for school, our district social workers can make the community aware of this simple need through the app. A participating community member can ‘claim” the request and drop off the sneakers to the school social worker.
Purposity is an app used by many school districts and non-profit organizations nationally with a vision to inspire everyone to live generously by connecting people to doing good in the same way Facebook connects friends and Google connects users to information.
“We live in an age when we can make a doctor’s appointment right from our phones,” said founder Blake Canterbury, “but we have no way of knowing if the family down the street has food on its table or if their children have shoes on their feet.” Purposity looks to bridge that gap locally.
Dubbed Your Tool for Good, the Purposity app sends a weekly notification to users with a need in their area. With just a few clicks, people can satisfy needs ranging from shoes and jackets for a local student to small household items for a family that lost their home in a fire. The app also features user profiles that track donors’ giving, allowing them to see their impact. “We wanted to create a way for communities to connect and unite in a meaningful way,” stated Blake Canterbury, founder and CEO. “Our belief is that if you knew your neighbor needed help, you’d help.”
Those who sign up receive an alert with a link to a story of an individual in need and can then choose to meet that need right on their phone. The requested item is in the hands of the organization in just a few days. It takes one notification, under a minute, and a few clicks to make a difference for a fellow community member.
To join the movement to support Red Hawks in the School District of Milton, download the Purposity app from the App Store or Google Play and be sure to follow “School District of Milton.”
