Disney Cast Members and VoluntEARS around the world are giving back this holiday season by participating in the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive. The Disney Ultimate Toy Drive kicked off earlier this holiday season in collaboration with Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products destinations and teams with a $500,000 donation to Marine Toys for Tots. The program works to ensure that children and families in need around the world would be able to receive some joy and a little extra Disney Magic during this time of year.
At Walt Disney World, Cast Members all around the resort’s property are helping out with the toy drive by sorting items and distributing them to local warehouses working with Toys for Tots. The Disney Parks Blog spoke with some of the Cast Members who are working on the project, including Araceli Medrano, who shared, “During this holiday season, giving back to me means creating happiness for others and not expecting anything in return. Working at World of Disney where we have multiple Toys for Tots donation drop-boxes, and getting to do something I know is going to make someone else happy, is a gift in and of itself.”
If you are hoping to donate toys to the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive, you still have some time to do so! Donations are being accepted through December 14, 2021 and there are collection bins at the World of Disney Store, Marketplace Co-Op, Star Wars Galactic Outpost and Disney Springs Welcome Center.
Events like the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive are just some of the ways that the Walt Disney Company gives back to local communities. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations around the world to ensure that endangered animals and their habitats will be around for generations to come. And, Disney VoluntEARS participate in all kinds of philanthropic events, from assisting families locally who are staying at Give Kids the World Village, to supporting animal care in the community at animal shelters.