Since its opening in 1955, giving back to the Anaheim and Orange County communities is what sets the Disneyland Resort apart from other organizations and companies. The Disneyland Resort works year-round alongside community partners to help connect families with resources they need.

One of the many ways the Disneyland Resort gives back to the community is through food banks and food distribution. From planting and harvesting produce at local farms to packing and distributing food through community organizations, meaningful community impact rarely happens in a single moment. It’s built through ongoing partnerships, shared purpose, and people coming together to support one another.

Tucked in the farmlands of Irvine sit 40-acre fields that produce heads of cabbage, vibrant patches of squash, and other produce. This plot of land is known as Harvest Solutions Farm, a partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, University of California South Coast Research & Extension Center, and Solutions for Urban Agriculture, founded in 2021.

Each week, the farm yields 50,000-60,000 pounds of fresh produce that’s distributed to local pantries thanks to the help of dedicated community members, including Disney VoluntEARS. On Saturday mornings throughout the year, Disney VoluntEARS arrive at Harvest Solutions Farm ready to roll up their sleeves, harvest crops, and help prepare food for distribution across Orange County.

“Disney VoluntEARS have the opportunity to spend time collecting produce that will go directly to local families and neighbors,” says Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Eric Benitez, who helps lead Disney VoluntEARS community initiatives.

The impact adds up quickly. This past weekend, 50 Disney VoluntEARS took part in one of these events, gathering at Harvest Solutions Farm to help harvest crops and prepare food for distribution across Orange County. The impact from these events adds up quickly. As a result of their work, Disney VoluntEARS helped harvest:

• As much as 4,000 pounds of cabbage in a single day
• 1,200 pounds of zucchini during another harvest 
• 4,000 pounds of squash during that same harvest
• Nearly 9,200 pounds of produce in total, roughly the weight of an adult elephant  

These pallets of fresh food are then shared with local schools, senior living communities, higher education institutions and other nonprofit organizations.

“My hope is that experiences like this at Harvest Solutions Farm leave our Disney VoluntEARS feeling more connected to the community,” shares Eric. “They’re able to show up for others in a really meaningful way.” 

Together, these efforts mark the beginning of a larger journey, one that starts in the fields and ensures fresh, nourishing food can continue moving through the community. 

This effort extends beyond Hunger Action Month as the Disneyland Resort works with local nonprofits to help connect families with the resources they need all year round. In addition to these donations, Disneyland Resort has hosted many Disney VoluntEARS projects to support food access — harvesting, packing, and distributing food across local food banks and Anaheim schools.

To help raise awareness for food access across Orange County, Disneyland Resort is continuing its support of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and the Orange County Food Bank, through volunteer initiatives, financial contributions and more. This year, the Disneyland Resort is proud to donate $75,000 to each nonprofit to support their important work combating food insecurity.

What do you think of the work the Disneyland Resort and its VoluntEARS do to help support the local community? Let us know in the comments.