“Kickstarter, but for traction.”

Need is everywhere. Some is unmistakable, scribbled in bold letters on cardboard signs or voiced through personal appeal. Some needs are hidden completely, unknown to all but those most affected.

When Dalmar is asked about the struggles he faced while homeless, he speaks of when he asked people for help. “They always felt that I would use their support on something else. They’d walk by and say, ‘Sorry I can’t help you, I just don’t know where my money would be going.’”

In the coming days, we’re going to introduce a free service in Seattle to reveal the stories with those we pass everyday — the single mom on the bus, the grandfather on the street, the homeless teen outside the supermarket — and provide an effective way to respond if you feel so led.

But before shelters register and distribute beacons to individuals they serve (how you get the notification on your phone), they want to see that our city is ready to respond first. That’s why we’re looking for 500 early adopters to download our app before a single beacon goes out.

Users won’t need to give us an email, a new password, credit card, nothing. They just download the app and pledge “I will”, to be counted. This is how easy it is:

Users will know their number and how close we are to distributing beacons. It’s kinda like Kickstarter, but for traction. We’re not asking for money — simply folks’ commitment to see those in need. 500 is not a grand number, but it’s measurable and somewhat significant in a local sense. The campaign for 500 helps seed one side of the market (donors) so that the first, third, tenth beacon holder (recipients) will be met by people ready to help them.

If you’re in Seattle, you can receive an email soon with two links, one for Android, and one for iPhone. Just sign up at withgivesafe.org.