NBA Players Association Donates $50,000 to Local Disney World Cast Member Food Bank

Just in time for the holidays, we have an amazing feel-good story to share with you thanks to Orlando Sentinel! Recently, we shared the news that a local food bank assisting Cast Members impacted by this year’s layoffs was in danger of closing due to a lack of resources.

Cast Members singing outside Muppet Vision 3-D

The food bank can stay open through the holiday season, thanks to an act of generosity from the NBA!

To recap, UNITE HERE Local 737, a union that represents workers in Walt Disney World Food & Beverage and Housekeeping, started a food bank back in May to help Cast Members in need. To date, a total of 32,000 Cast Members across Disney’s Parks, Experiences, and Products Division received layoff notices, many of which were located in Orlando.

Custodial Cast Member and their incredible Water Art!

The food bank was running low on resources, and announced that they weren’t sure how much longer they could stay open to assist those in need. That’s when the NBA comes in. If you recall, Disney World hosted the NBA earlier this year where the players, coaches, and staff lived in the resort hotels for several months in 2020 so they could resume their 2020 season.

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Throughout their stay, the players interacted with many of the housekeeping and Food & Beverage Cast Members represented by Local 737. Now, the NBA Players Association has made a donation in the amount of $50,000 to the UNITE HERE Local 737 Food Bank to help keep the lights on during the holiday season.

NBA Logo

Over on Local 737’s Facebook page, Michele Roberts, executive director of the NBPA, commented “Our hope with this donation is to say ‘thank you’ and extend the same kindness to the Members of Local 737 that they extended to our Members this past summer and fall.”

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Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic commented, “We’re lucky to be in the position that we are, to make the money that we are and live a good life and so when you can help others that are not in the same situation it’s huge…The players association has great programs that we can use to help others, and so I think that is something that the NBA does a great job with, and players as well.”

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The donation is expected to keep the food bank running for at least another month, as weekly expenses for the food bank total approximately $10,000. If you’re interested in volunteering or contributing to the food bank, you can contact Local 737 at 407-851-0626. You can make a donation online by clicking on this link here. The group distributes bags of groceries on Saturdays via drive through, no questions asked, at 1255 La Quinta Drive, Suite 214, Orlando, FL 32809.