Being nearly twice the size of Manhattan, Walt Disney World Resort sees thousands of guests coming through its four parks and resort hotels every day. While those guests make memories that last a lifetime, sometimes items are forgotten. However, because of Disney, a next chapter is possible for permanently unclaimed lost & found items.
With National Thrift Shop Day coming up tomorrow, it’s the perfect time for a “peek behind the pixie dust” to learn what happens next. While cast work hard to reunite lost & found items with their owners, Disney World regularly donates the unclaimed items to several nonprofit organizations that operate thrift shops in Central Florida – from strollers to Disney merchandise and everything in between.
This not only helps reduce waste, but with 100% of the proceeds from sales going directly to the organizations, it supports local communities and families in need.
“It’s no surprise that the Disney items are some of the most popular at the thrift store. In fact, the Disney donations account for the largest portion of revenue from a single donor,” Jamie Merrill, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, said. “This is just a small fraction of their overall support. I cannot overstate the impact this has on our organization and our more than 12,000 club members.”
In addition to lost & found items, Disney World also donates other unused merchandise and products from around the resort to thrift shops, nonprofits and schools in need — things like fabric, tech and office supplies.
- Throughout the school year, Central Florida teachers are invited to step into the “Costuming Vault” and select fabrics to be remade into costumes for school plays and performances. They get to bring Disney magic to their own productions by choosing some of the very same fabrics used for cast member costumes across the resort.
- With so many incredible entertainment offerings at Disney World, there’s quite a bit of entertainment equipment across the resort — like stage lights. The lights get upgraded from time-to-time but retired lights can shine anew when they’re donated to schools in Orange and Osceola County.
- Disney World also donates hundreds of school and office supplies to A Gift for Teaching to help supply their Teacher Store, a free store for local teachers to pick up needed items for their classrooms. This is in addition to what cast members donate through the annual Back-to-School Supply Drive which also benefits A Gift for Teaching and is happening now.
To learn more about these community efforts and others, including a new $500,000 donation to seven nonprofits, visit DisneyFlorida.com.