This weekend, Disney VoluntEARS around the world celebrated National Family Volunteer Day by giving back to their local communities to kick off the holiday season! Family Volunteer Day is an annual day of service that celebrates families everywhere who join together to make a difference in local communities.
At Walt Disney World Resort, more than 130 cast members and their families took part in special projects across Central Florida, including decorating for the holidays at the Give Kids the World Village, leading book readings at the South Creek Branch Library, and helping to kick off Toys for Tots collection drives for the holiday season. Also in Florida, Disney VoluntEARS worked together with a Walt Disney World Resort chef to serve meals at the Coalition for the Homeless leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, which works to end homelessness in the Central Florida community.
More than 200 Disney VoluntEARS from the Disneyland Resort and their families volunteered at the Orange County Food Bank helping to pack more than 27,000 boxes of donated food which will serve low-income families and individuals in the local community. Cast members will continue to support children and families in Southern California with donations and volunteer activities as a part of the annual Toys for Tots Marine Foundation Drive. This year, you can even get involved and help support these efforts! When you visit Downtown Disney District this holiday season anytime from November 27 through December 10 you can drop off a toy for donation in collection boxes at locations across Downtown Disney District.
Cast members at Shanghai Disney Resort got involved, saluting family volunteering by sharing the joy of Disney stories with young readers and their families at Shanghai Pudong Library and unlocking the power of imaginative play in youth through a special family day supporting the Right To Play China nonprofit. Hong Kong Disneyland also joined the effort, with Disney VoluntEARS taking part in building a community playground for children to enjoy for years to come.
Thank you to all of our Disney VoluntEARS and their families who to participated to make Family Volunteer Day a truly memorable experience. Moments like these bringing families together are at the heart of everything we do at Disney Parks. Helping local communities is definitely a great way to make memories that last a lifetime!
