ORLANDO, Fla. — A Central Florida couple decided to help the thousands of Disney World employees who were impacted by the recent layoffs.
What You Need To Know
- GoFundMe started to raise money for Cast Member Pantry
- Betsy and Conner Bourne started the fundraiser to help those impacted by furloughs, layoffs
- Cast Member Pantry was started in March and provides groceries to Disney workers in need
- To donate, visit GoFundMe
Betsy Bourne, who works at Disney World, and her husband Conner started a GoFundMe to raise money for the Cast Member Pantry, a food pantry started in March by Emily Lartigue as a way to help fellow colleagues who had been furloughed.
Disney World theme parks reopened in July and thousands were called back to work. But many remain furloughed, and with the recent announcement of layoffs, the demand for the pantry has grown.
“My wife and I felt called to practically help our friends, colleagues, and neighbors as we were impacted by the furloughs and know first-hand how much a helping hand means in this time of isolation,” Conner Bourne wrote on the GoFundMe page. “We can do more and be more when we are connected as a community.”
The money raised will go directly to the Cast Member Pantry cover the cost of food, the storage unit where the pantry is located and other expenses.
The fundraiser, which was launched two days ago, has so far raised $4,600.
As for the Cast Member Pantry, it regularly provides updates on its Facebook page. To receive groceries, Disney World workers should email castmemberpantry@gmail.com and fill out the form sent in the automatic reply.