Special to Iredell Free News

Mooresville Graded School District recently announced a partnership with Purposity, an app connecting users with one-to-one needs in their community. The partnership aims to fulfill the essential needs of the families of Mooresville Graded School District.

If you knew a kid down the street had a simple need – say she needed sneakers for school – chances are you’d help, right? But it’s hard to know the needs of real people in your community because there’s never been a way to connect people who could really use help with people who want to offer it.

Enter a new app: Purposity.

Its name comes from purpose + generosity, and it’s designed to connect the individual needs of people near you with neighbors like you.

The vision for Purposity is to inspire us to live generously by connecting people to doing good in the same way Facebook connects us to friends and Google connects us 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.

“We are excited about the possibilities Purposity brings to our MGSD families,” said MGSD Superintendent Stephen Mauney. “We definitely have students with needs in our district, and we have community members that will ask if they can donate coats or shoes or canned goods. This app will help us streamline matching the needs with those who have the ability and desire to help.”

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,” Canterbury explained. “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 MGSD students, download the app from the App Store or Google Play and be sure to follow Mooresville Graded School District.

About Mooresville Graded School District

Mooresville Graded School District is a public school system located in Mooresville, NC, that serves approximately 6200 students in grades PreK through 12th grade. Known for community and exceptional academic achievement, the district strives to empower every student with the opportunity to realize their maximum potential by embracing the inherent worth of the whole child.

About Purposity

Purposity is an Atlanta-based organization formed on the principle that individuals find purpose through generosity: Purposity. Their mission is to connect people in need with those that can help and work to accomplish this mission through an app, making it easy for neighbors to help neighbors. Users of Purposity experience transparency and a one-to-one relationship with philanthropy, based on knowing the story of the exact need their donation is meeting. Purposity’s platform also allows timely access to donors within a community for schools and other nonprofits. To learn more, visit www.purposity.com.

Melissa Neader for Iredell County Commissioner