Disney cast members are known for creating magic for guests around the world, but how do magic makers retain their happiness and financial stability when some parts of the “world” are not scheduled to re-open until 2021 or beyond?
Ear For Each Other has turned out to be the perfect solution because of a loaf of bread and homemade carrot cake. While scrolling through Facebook, Maxine Wild noticed a lot of familiar faces making bread. Since Maxine and her husband were still working, it bothered her to see others struggle while they were not. This gave her the idea to start purchasing from furloughed cast members instead of big chain grocery stores. Combine that with her best friend, Amy Baker’s (@bakergirlorders), cooking skills, and a Facebook group was made! Initially intended for a small set of friends to help each other do various projects, Wild thought, “if every working cast member did one nice thing for every furloughed cast member … we could make a difference.”
To say this group has made an impact is an understatement. In less than a month, Ear For Each Other has grown (organically) into a companionship of over 6.3K members! Maxine believes that “what makes the page so successful, is that we have a very clear mission and vision. The content that we put out aligns with our identity and who we want to be. We rarely, if ever, stray from our purpose.” That mission, as stated on the Facebook group’s home page, is as follows:
“To support furloughed cast during this time. This page is a place where furloughed cast can share their side hustle or to get ideas on how to turn talent into a marketable commodity. This will not last forever. This is a moment. Let’s help each other get through this moment.
Share your thoughts, your experiences, your ideas and ways that your furloughed friends can stay connected.
This group provides a platform for furloughed cast to share their side hustles. If you are not a furloughed CM, we kindly request that you do not advertise in this group.
Here, we can connect each other with friends and family who are looking for these services or might be willing to hire a furloughed cast member.”
On the heels of a different group that created a food pantry solely for Disney employees, the success of this community stems from the tight-knit and caring relationship that cast members hold with one another. Wild accredits it to the fact that Disney, as a company, has provided a shared set of values and understanding that this group was simply able to take to the next level as a sense of community. With Florida’s unemployment maximum at just $275 a week, people are not always able to make ends meet. However, Maxine admits that she never intended this group to be sustainable. Her goal is that everyone goes back to work so that they can delete the page. She states that “Disney is incredibly special because those who work for the company … love the company. And they are willing to do jobs, and side gigs, in the meantime while they patiently wait for their call back to work.”
With the group’s everyday growth in popularity ranging from mentorship and “in search of”, to crafting, baked goods, clothing, and art, the admins have made it easier for everyone to find what they are looking for with the inclusion of topic buttons on the page’s sidebar. Although Maxine has never run a Facebook group before, she understands brand, mission, and vision from a business perspective. On the other hand, one of the greatest successes of the group for Amy has been like many of the other participants, reconnecting with people. Before selling and making her cakes, she was at home with her kids and that was it. Now, people are stopping by the house to pick up cakes and she is reconnecting with people when she makes deliveries. It’s giving her a sense of routine and purpose. And of course, that sense of community.
The organization has been featured in a local newspaper, Orange Observer, as well as its most recent spotlight on WFTV Channel 9 Live News:
The group admins have perfectly summed up what can happen when you take a chance on creating an active community:
“Sometimes the only mode of transportation is a leap of faith. When forming this group, we had doubts. We didn’t know what to expect or how it would be received. I’m glad we asked ourselves, “What if this actually works?” … I believe that this group has brought encouragement and positivity to our community. Continue to encourage and support one another, continue to believe that you can do incredible and impactful things, continue to ask yourself in a moment of doubt: What if this ACTUALLY WORKS…”
