WEATHER ALERT
Laid off Disney employees collect toys for unemployed cast members in need
ORLANDO, Fla. โ In the past two weeks, Disney confirmed layoffs for roughly 15,000 union and nonunion local Disney workers. Among those are Erin Blackketter and Laura Bartlett, who worked as part-time servers at places such as Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disneyโs Wilderness Lodge. โWe were very fortunate but a lot of our cast family that weโve known for ten years were not as fortunate,โ Bartlett said. This is the end of an era for us.โNow those laid off cast members hope to help others impacted this holiday season by starting โCast Member Toy Box.โโCast Member Toy Box is a nonprofit holiday toy drive that benefits the children of Disney cast members who have been furloughed or laid off,โ Bartlett explained. We have children from 0 to 17, so we donโt have any specific need for one need, just whatever anyone would like to donate.โTo make a donation to Cast Member Toy Box or sign up as a recipient, click or tap here.