Posted on Oct 21, 2020
Laid-off Disney workers are turning to food banks as the coronavirus devastates Florida’s tourism...
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At a self-storage garage in the suburbs of Orlando, a dozen or so volunteers are lining up to fill bags with groceries. This pop-up food bank has grown steadily over the past few months. The new helpers are introducing themselves.
“I’m here to help out my fellow cast members,” says one, 52-year-old Tammy Akers. “I was recently laid off so I may need help myself soon,” she adds.
Cast members is what Disney employees call themselves. No matter what their job, most see themselves as part of the same onscreen universe that birthed an entertainment empire. But that empire is crumbling. Akers is one of thousands of cast members who have been laid off or furloughed in recent months here in central Florida, a casualty of the havoc wrought by the coronavirus on the tourism industry.
“I’m here to help out my fellow cast members,” says one, 52-year-old Tammy Akers. “I was recently laid off so I may need help myself soon,” she adds.
Cast members is what Disney employees call themselves. No matter what their job, most see themselves as part of the same onscreen universe that birthed an entertainment empire. But that empire is crumbling. Akers is one of thousands of cast members who have been laid off or furloughed in recent months here in central Florida, a casualty of the havoc wrought by the coronavirus on the tourism industry.
Laid-off Disney workers are turning to food banks as the coronavirus devastates Florida’s tourism...
Posted from independent.co.uk
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
Posted >1 y ago
It is sad as millions will become impoverished and they have to make a decision of paying rent or feeding mouths.
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Posted >1 y ago
Very sad to read about their struggles with poverty and loss of benefits. Disney unemployment has additional negative effects along with food bank need
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-aspire-layoffs-20201019-fuonyn56jfclzbhopbsgqn7lqa-story.html
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-aspire-layoffs-20201019-fuonyn56jfclzbhopbsgqn7lqa-story.html
As some Disney workers lose their jobs, their free college education vanishes, too
“Should we have hope? Should we hang on?" said one Disney employee who worries how she will finish paying for her education once she loses her job.
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