With Los Angeles still struggling to deal with the impact of the devasting wildfires, Disney has donated $15 million for initial and immediate response and rebuilding efforts in the area.

Additionally, Disney has been working to ensure the safety and well-being of its employees, many of whom have been impacted by these fires. One way that the Disney Entertainment Television division has been doing this is by giving away clothing and shoes from recent Disney film and TV productions to employees, production crew, and their families who lost their homes.

Some of the clothing given away was from productions such as “Genius: MLK/X”, “grown-ish”, “The Old Man”, “Station 19”, “UnPrisoned”, and “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place”. This has allowed Disney to offer a wide variety of options to each Cast Member, employee, and family member.

Disney’s CEO Bob Iger said in a statement regarding the company’s response to the wildfires:

“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation.  Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”

Heidi Chong, Vice President of Production Shared Services for Disney Entertainment Television, revealed some details about the unique way Disney helps its employees.

“Most companies are not sitting on an entire warehouse full of wardrobe — some of which has been barely used, if it’s been used at all.  We really want to emphasize to the families: ‘If you come here, we’ve already organized everything for you. It’s all on display on the racks. You can find what you need.’ There are no limits to the amounts that people are getting; it’s really about what they need.”

Disney Entertainment Production worked in the warehouse in North Hollywood all weekend long to gather the clothing. More than 80 Disney VoluntEARS unpacked boxes, sorted items by size and style, and prepared to welcome members of the Disney community who needed their support.

Invitations were sent out via email earlier this week to cast members and employees, who were asked to register online and select a shopping window that was convenient for them. If the dates and/or times do not work — or if they are in more urgent need — accommodations will be made to assist them.  Belen Buenrrostro, Manager, Asset Management, Disney Entertainment Television, explained:

“We really want to make the experience as easy and friendly as possible.  We give everyone a rack and assign them a buddy shopper. We also set up a play area for the kids, where we stream Disney+ movies and offer games and snacks.”

Roger’s Take: This is such a smart move by Disney because they’ve got stockpiles of clothing just sitting around unused, and many of the shows highlighted have been either cancelled or come to an end.  So aren’t going to be required for future seasons and unless those items were going to be used on another show or of significant cultural value, why not give them to people who need them?  

What do you think of Disney’s great idea to help its employees?  Let me know on social media!

 

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Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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