Orlando Magic, Lakeland Magic, Orlando Solar Bears contribute to Hurricane Irma cleanup

The Orlando Magic, Orlando Solar Bears and Lakeland Magic put their staff to work Tuesday to help provide valuable services to Hurricane Irma cleanup.

The Orlando Magic, Lakeland Magic and Orlando Solar Bears joined forces in their efforts to help Central Florida recover from the devastation of Hurricane Irma.

On Tuesday, staff, players and coaches came to the Disney Atrium at the Amway Center to put together 35,000 healthy meals for Feeding Children Everywhere. They also packaged hygiene kits for Clean the World. These resources will be invaluable for those Central Florida residents still without power in the wake of Hurricane Irma a week ago.

Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins, president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, coach Frank Vogel and players Jonathan Isaac, Wesley Iwundu, Terrence Ross and Shelvin Mack.

"“This is obviously important because this whole area was affected by Hurricane Irma, and there are just a lot of people out there who need assistance,” Vogel told John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com. “It’s great for our company to gather like this and give back. We’re about competing for championships, but it’s also important for us to serve our community and give back. People support us all year long and work like this is part of our mission statement to give back and support our community.”"

This was the Magic’s largest public outreach event and coincided with their Magic University program for employees. But it was also something that hit close to home.

Martins estimated 80 percent of the franchise’s staff was without power for some portion of the storm. He said nearly 20 percent of the team’s staff were still without power. The Magic’s offices were closed most of last week to focus on helping the city and the Central Florida area recover from the storm.

Central Florida is still very much trying to pick itself back up and get back to normal after Hurricane Irma last week.

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic have been active throughout the last few weeks in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The team had staff volunteer opportunities with the Coalition for the Homeless, the Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and One Heart for Women and Children among many other charities. The Magic also helped distribute ice bags to residents at the Northwest Community Center in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

Orlando was largely spared from the worst of the storm but still saw massive amounts of rain and wind damage. Much of Central Florida is still without power and utility companies try to restore the city to normal.

That was not the case in Lakeland. Lakeland ended up getting the full brunt of the storm and is still getting itself back on its feet. The Lakeland Magic opened the RP Funding Center to serve warm meals to residents and provide activities for local children last Friday.

It has been a week since Hurricane Irma hit. The city and the entire state are starting to get back to normal.

But, certainly, things are getting back to normal. Slowly, but surely.

And the Magic are helping in whatever little way they can before the season begins.

Even before Hurricane Irma, the Magic helped sort hygiene items for Clean The World to send to Houston and Texas after Hurricane Harvey.

Next: Orlando Magic Daily Podcast: What happens next?

The Magic will become enwrapped in its season after Media Day on Monday. But the Magic continue to be great citizens of Central Florida. Especially in the wake of Hurricane Irma.