Facebook added a 'crisis donate button' to help disaster victims

From natural disasters to terror events, Facebook has been continuously expanding the capabilities of its Crisis Response Hub, which they rolled out in September of 2017.

Now, in addition to following the latest news or checking the status of friends in at-risk areas, Facebook has provided its users with another way to give back. On Friday, the social network unveiled the "crisis donate button," which enables people to easily give money to organizations assisting victims.

Facebook will send money donated through the button to GlobalGiving, a non-profit that works with many NGOs who may be on the ground in disaster situations. Through its partnerships, GlobalGiving learns where the money is needed most during disaster situations, and disseminates its funds where they deem it will be most impactful.

“Following a disaster, people in the affected area often have tremendous needs to help them recover and rebuild," Asha Sharma, Facebook's social good product manager, said in a statement sent to Mashable. "Others who aren't affected want to help communities in any way they can."

Facebook rolled out the ability to donate to non-profits in 2013. They debuted the "safety check" feature shortly thereafter in 2014, and made the ability to check in on safety updates a permanent feature this past August. Now, Facebook's users can check on friends and loved ones, and contribute to relief efforts all in the same place. And Facebook will waive all transaction fees on donations made through the button.

"Our goal at Facebook," Sharma said, "is to create tools that make it easier for people to help their community and the communities they care about recover from a crisis."

Nice to see a social network being used for good for a change, isn't it?