Connecting with kids in need

Posted September 5, 2018

The Kyrene School District (KSD) is celebrating the successful launch of a new text-based tool that puts giving at your fingertips.

Have you ever seen a child without a backpack? Or with shoes a size too small? Maybe you’ve heard of a family who lost their home to a fire, and you didn’t know how to help. Our Kyrene students and families have needs far beyond the classroom, so we are reaching into our community to meet those needs, with a new tool called Purposity.

KSD is the first school district in Arizona to use Purposity, an online application that allows school staff to share specific student needs with Purposity members, who can then choose to fill that need.

How it works: Once a week, Purposity members get a text message with a list of Kyrene student needs, as identified by staff. With a couple of taps, members can fill those needs and know that any donation or contribution will go directly to the student.

Fast Facts:

• Kyrene set a record with Purposity for initial membership enrollment. Within 48 hours of introducing the tool to our community, more than 500 people had signed up to give.
• Kyrene recently sent the first list of 41 student needs. Our community filled all 41 needs in just 40 minutes.
  A few needs filled so far: shoes, clothing, bedding, bath towels
• “The generosity of the Kyrene community never fails to amaze me, but the speed at which our community answered this call was truly awe-inspiring,” said Kyrene Superintendent Dr. Jan Vesely. “To be successful in school, we need to ensure our students’ needs are met at home.”

A Purposity donor and a Kyrene staff member responsible for identifying student needs are both available for interviews. Interested media should contact Erin Helm: ehelm@kyrene.org