Disneyland VoluntEARS help put Christmas dinner on local tables

More than 1,500 families will eat this holiday season—and their children will find something special under the Christmas tree—because of the combined efforts of Disneyland Resort and the Power of One Foundation.

On Dec 21, Disney VoluntEARS joined forces with the not-for-profit Power of One Foundation in a drive-through event staged in the employee parking lot at Disneyland Resort, to help feed Anaheim families and cast members experiencing food insecurity due to furlough or layoffs.

The drive-through event provided 1,500 families with fresh food, dried goods, pantry items, meal kits, diapers, plush toys, books, baby food, and more, ensuring each family will have supplies for Christmas dinner, and gifts for youngsters.

Although the theme parks remain closed—with the exception of shopping locations in Disney California Adventure—and will not open before early to mid-2021, Disney VoluntEARS assisted at the event, helping to route cars toward the food pick-up point, and handing out boxes.

Disneyland Resort has longstanding relationships with local charity organizations, and as part of their outreach during this difficult year they have also made substantial food donations to food bank partners in the area, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and the Orange County Food Bank.

California’s Governor Newsom issued a regional stay-at-home order in early December due to the pandemic’s impact on intensive care unit bed availability, and since that time nearly 20 tons of food were donated by restaurants facing temporary closure throughout the Downtown Disney District, bringing Disneyland Resort’s total food donation since March to more than 200 tons.

As unemployment continues to rise, and especially during the holiday season, Disneyland Resort’s commitment to the needs of its community remains strong.