Disney kicks off holiday season with Ultimate Toy Drive

The Walt Disney Company is kicking off the holiday season with its annual Disney Ultimate Toy Drive.

Now through Dec. 14, people can participate and help bring more joy to children in need by donating a toy online at shopDisney.com for the toy drive or a new, unwrapped toy at one of Disney’s drop-off locations.

On "Good Morning America" Thursday, Marine Staff Sergeant Ash Jacques presented a $500,000 donation from Disney to Toys for Tots.

"Wow, that is amazing. Thank you so, so very much. That's going to help a lot of kids, less fortunate kids throughout the country so thank you so much for that," Jacques said. "Honestly without the support of organizations like yourself, we couldn't make this possible."

Jacques, who has volunteered with the program since he enlisted 15 years ago, told "GMA," that "the children we're serving don't wake up on Christmas morning and think Santa forgot about them."

For more than 70 years, The Walt Disney Company has supported the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation to bring comfort, happiness and inspiration to children and families in need during the holiday season. In 1947, Walt Disney and his animators designed the original Toys for Tots train logo that is still used today.

"Disneyland in California was the only drop location for toys in the very early days," Jacques said.

As he and other volunteers work to bring the holiday spirit for the 2021 season, their teams have sorted and packed toys ahead of the highly anticipated donation day.

"We're able to pass those toys on to the families that need it the most and let them have that stress taken away for Christmas," he said.

Learn more about how you can participate and bring joy to children in need this holiday season by visiting Disney.com/ToyDrive.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and "Good Morning America."