On Thursday, Disneyland announced that as a precaution, it would temporarily close “The Happiest Place on Earth” because of fear of spreading the coronavirus, COVID-19.
There were no cases reported at the park:
— Disney Parks News (@DisneyParksNews) March 12, 2020
That meant that the food the huge theme park uses every day, in its dozens and dozens of food carts, restaurants, and carts serving those iconic turkey legs, would either go bad or need to be stored until the theme park reopened.
Instead, Disneyland has donated all of the food it would have sold to Orange County, Calif., food banks.
Proud to be a @Disneyland #GoodNeighbhorHotel. #Disneyland https://t.co/gDjJJVsPL4
— Hilton Anaheim Hotel (@HiltonAnaheim) March 16, 2020
But they needed help processing all the food. Help came:
At @SecondHarvestFB in Irvine they are preparing boxes of shelf stable food for the coronavirus vulnerable population, such as as seniors and at risk children. These boxes will be delivered to OC pantry sites throughout the county starting today @CBSLA @KCBSKCALDesk pic.twitter.com/9FzdEUawOC
— Chris Ercoli (@CErcoliCBS2KCAL) March 13, 2020
Second Harvest volunteers have been processing the food for delivery to local food banks for the last couple of days.
Working fast and furious at @SecondHarvestFB where there is a silver lining. @Disneyland donates food that can’t be used due to park closures. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/VcR0GvBy5p
— Vikki Vargas (@VikkiNBCLA) March 14, 2020
Disney announced it “has an ongoing commitment to reducing food waste, and during the temporary closure of Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park will be donating excess food inventory to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.”
“While closely following food safety guidelines, excess inventory of dairy, fruit, vegetables, packaged goods and banquet meals is being donated to Second Harvest Food Bank, whose mission is to end hunger in Orange County,” Disney said.
Disney and Second Harvest have been working together since 2014 and last year the Disneyland resort “donated over 20,000 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County through the food donation program, and Disney VoluntEARS regularly volunteer there, supporting the mission of ending hunger.”
But don’t you worry. Disneyland and Disney World will be back up and running soon.
The time has arrived! The all-new “Magic Happens” parade debuts today at Disneyland park! pic.twitter.com/owsRjLiaFi
— Disneyland Resort (@Disneyland) February 28, 2020
And that’s how it’s done. ‘Merica.
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