Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic giving back in time of social distancing

Jonathan Isaac and the Orlando Magic have made some major contributions to support the city while it deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

Life has been upended everywhere in the world.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced everyone to change their social habits to practice good social distancing and to try to slow down the spread of the disease, COVID-19.

It is not merely that basketball is on hold. Schools are closed. Bars are shuttered — walking around downtown Orlando on Saturday night is eerily quiet. Orange and Osceola Counties have both put in curfews to try to curtail late-night gatherings. Other states have ordered residents to stay home completely.

Orlando Magic basketball is the least of anyone’s concern right now. As it should be.

The concern for everyone is staying healthy, keeping everyone else healthy and getting through the worst of this disease as a group. And to do that it will take everyone.

Not merely just social distancing to keep the virus from spreading, but helping each other out when we can and where we can. Little acts can matter as much as the big acts. But the big acts have plenty of meaning.

Jonathan Isaac is making a big act to support his community.

Jonathan Isaac announced on social media that he is joining J.U.M.P. Ministries and Project Life to donate meals to needy residents in Orlando.

Isaac along with J.U.M.P. Ministries and Project Life will be providing meals in three ways.

First, in association with Project Life, they will be providing hot breakfast and lunches to students Monday through Friday while they are out of school during the coronavirus pandemic.

This is an incredible benefit. Many students, especially in areas near Downtown Orlando, rely on their school to provide them with meals throughout the day during the school year. Schools shutting down cuts off that access.

This is providing a major benefit to many students across Central Florida.

Isaac said in the video above that the meals will be grab and go for students and their families and preparation will follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

Additionally, Isaac said he would be working to provide meal kits for families to pick up every Friday for the duration of the pandemic. This will provide non-perishable meals to those who might not otherwise be able to afford them especially as the economy gets crunched in Central Florida.

The third thing he is doing is to work to deliver meals to students and children who are living at extended-stay hotels during the pandemic.

In essence, Isaac, with Project Life and J.U.M.P. Ministries, is trying to make sure those in need will have access to food during the course of this pandemic. Especially children and families who might have otherwise had access to warm food cut off by the closures from the pandemic.

This is an incredibly generous and necessary gift to the people of Orlando from Isaac. It is going to be a huge benefit to families and students.

The Orlando Magic along with Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill spent much of Sunday getting the word out about these benefits.

The Magic have done their part as a team — and are surely getting set to do more. Their $2 million pledge to support arena workers for the team, the Amway Center, the Orlando Solar Bears and Lakeland Magic through a compensation fund is extremely generous. Several players have made pledges to support this fund.

There are players surely looking to do their own independent support for the community too.

They are all going to be doing their part to support the community and lift each other up at this moment everyone needs each other.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.