Facebook is launching a new functionality that enables users across the United States to organize collections of essential items – including food, clothing, and other necessities – for individuals experiencing hardship. This new tool, known as “Drives,” is being integrated into Facebook’s existing Community Help hub, a centralized platform for local community support requests and offerings.

The Community Help hub was initially introduced in 2017 to provide a focused space for Facebook users to coordinate assistance following crises, such as natural disasters, accidental events, or acts of terrorism. In 2020, the scope of this feature expanded significantly as part of Facebook’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, even leading to a global rollout to support those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Currently, the economic challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. have resulted in widespread job losses, and millions face the potential loss of unemployment benefits when provisions of the CARES Act expire in December. Consequently, a significant number of people are struggling with food insecurity and difficulties covering essential expenses like rent, mortgage payments, and general household costs.

Through Drives, Facebook will empower users to initiate and promote their own collection campaigns for those in need. This could include organizing a Canned Food Drive to benefit local shelters, a Clothing Drive, or any other initiative focused on gathering items to assist others.

To begin a Drive, users should enter “Community Help” into the Facebook search bar to locate the shortcut leading to the Community Help hub. Within the hub, click the “Request or Offer Help” button, and then select “Create Drive” from the options presented. A form will then appear, allowing you to specify the quantity of items you aim to collect. This goal will be visible to others, providing a clear indication of remaining needs. Once published, the Drive will be displayed in your News Feed and Timeline, as well as within the Community Help section.

The rollout of this feature is beginning today; however, Facebook’s initial announcement indicated a potential delay of “weeks” before it became broadly accessible. This would have been problematic, considering many users likely intend to launch holiday-themed Drives to provide food for holiday meals or gifts for families in need. (Following the publication of an earlier report, Facebook updated its announcement to “coming days” and informed TechCrunch that it would accelerate the rollout to ensure availability before the holidays.)

Facebook emphasizes that all content posted within Community Help, including Drives, undergoes review to ensure compliance with Facebook’s Community Standards and Community Help Product Policies. These policies prohibit inappropriate and promotional content, spam, inauthentic posts, and contributions from users under the age of 18, among other restrictions. Any posts found to be in violation will be removed, according to the company.

Drives is just one of several initiatives Facebook announced today related to holiday giving. The company also stated it will match up to $7 million in qualifying donations to U.S. nonprofit organizations on Giving Tuesday (December 1), and is hosting its own fundraising event, “Peace Through Music: A Global Event For Social Justice,” exclusively on Facebook Live. This event, scheduled for December 1 at 12 PM ET, will feature performances by Aloe Blacc, Billie Eilish, Becky G, Carlos Santana & Cindy Blackman Santana, Killer Mike, Ringo Starr, Skip Marley, and others, with proceeds benefiting the Playing for Change Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund, Sankofa, Silkroad and The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

In addition, Instagram will soon introduce new fundraising capabilities. Currently, Instagram users can utilize fundraising stickers in Stories and during Instagram Live broadcasts. A forthcoming feature will also allow users to share fundraisers directly on their Instagram Feed, although Facebook has not yet specified a launch date for this update.