The strength of our cast and community continues to touch all of us, as everyone navigates this incredibly challenging time. With so many of our friends, family and neighbors remaining courageous, we are inspired to continue our giving spirit which is such a part of our Disney culture.
At the start of our temporary closure, we began regular deliveries of unused food to Second Harvest Food Back of Central Florida, which to date have totaled more than 646,000 pounds of food to provide 538,600 meals for families in need. We are also focused on supporting medical heroes and first responders, donating 36,800 N95 face masks, 160 boxes of gloves and 600 bottles of hand sanitizers to healthcare and support groups working to protect at-risk populations. And hearing that rain ponchos are an excellent way to protect clothing and prolong the use of Personal Protective Equipment, Disney Parks has donated 150,000 ponchos to MedShare, a humanitarian organization, to provide to hospitals in need – while also delivering an additional 25,000 ponchos to hospitals across our Central Florida Community.
Additional support has reached beyond traditional donations to give second life to Disney items, including 58,000 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend t-shirts and 12,800 meal boxes that would have gone unused after the event’s cancellation. Teams worked quickly to schedule deliveries to programs supporting underserved communities near the supply vendors in Maryland and Georgia.
Easter lilies grown to decorate our parks and resorts were also given new life to brighten the days of seniors citizens social distancing at home, being donated to Osceola Council on Aging’s Meals On Wheels program. More than 605 yards of cotton fabric and 3,000 yards of elastic supported the Hope Center in Clermont, FL in creating hand-sewn reusable masks for health professionals. And finally, more than 87,000 cookies, treats and snacks have been delivered in recent days to thank all of the medical heroes, hospital personnel, police officers and first responders working around the clock to keep Central Florida safe during this time of need.
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
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