A comic and game shop in Kingston’s west end is collecting donations for people in need during self-isolation.

Mark Fardella owns SBT Comics and Games at 749 Bayridge Dr. In the past several days, he’s been using the gaming lounge in the back of the store as a collection centre for donations of food, diapers, toilet paper, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, animal food and other basic essentials. Volunteer drivers are delivering care packages to anyone who reaches out and asks for one.

“Our gaming room is obviously shut down because we don’t want people meeting,” Fardella said. “I decided that rather than close the doors, we could use the space for something. So we’ve put the word out that we are collecting donations.”

The room has been overflowing with gifts, and as many as 15 drivers were on the road on the weekend taking bags of requested supplies to those in self-isolation. People call the store or send a Facebook message telling Fardella what they need, and then he builds them a care package.

Fardella said most of the calls he’s getting are from adult children of elderly individuals who are isolated, or people who just can’t afford to purchase the items they need to feed and care for themselves or their families.

“People are messaging saying when they get their first (employment insurance) cheque, they’ll pay it forward,” he said. “These are regular people. They struggle and they don’t like asking for help. But everyone needs to ask for help.”

Some of those people reaching out are at higher risk of severe illness.

“To be honest, everyone is afraid,” he said. “We’re helping those who are at more risk. I’m healthy. I can only imagine what elderly people, or people with compromised immune systems, must feel right now.”

The store is taking every precaution to be safe in this endeavour. Only three people are permitted in the store at a time, and no one is allowed in the back room except for Fardella, to gather the requested items.

Drivers are wearing gloves and using hand sanitizer, and the deliveries are made with zero contact — the driver knocks at the door, leaves the bag and departs.

“When they message me, we tell them to make sure you sanitize the food on their own, too, because we don’t necessarily know where it’s coming from,” Fardella said.

Volunteer delivery driver Natalie Larin said the initiative is helping people who need it most.

“I’m a home care worker by trade. I go into people’s homes on a daily basis to care for them,” Larin said. “A lot of them are deathly afraid right now of the virus. They don’t want to go out, and they don’t know how they’re going to get groceries in, because they’ve been told they can’t be around their families. When Mark said he was going to have this in the store, I thought, great, I’ll go help.

“You have to help the community. People are warned to stay home because of this. It’s a great way to keep people home. Hopefully this virus just goes away.”

Nick Noble said that driving and delivering the care packages has given him a reason to get out in a meaningful way.

“It’s also helpful to stave off the stir craziness of being indoor a whole bunch,” he admitted. “It’s kind of nice to give back to the community in this time of need, for sure.”

Fardella said he will continue to collect and deliver donations for as long as he can — either until he goes out of business or until the government tells him to close his doors.

He said he’s likely a week away from going out of business.

“It sucks. We need a lot of money to stay open. The rent is still owed … we still need to pay for the product,” he said.

Fardella teared up as he talked about the possibility of his store closing. SBT Comics has been his dream come true.

“I figured, I could sit at home and pout or I could do something. It’s upsetting, but it is what it is,” he said. “The community lets me sell comics for a living. I feel like I owe it to help that community. They let me live my dream. I just want to help while I can and be an example for my kids.”

On Saturday evening, Anita Vanzevenbergen was delivering two bags of donations at the store.

“I just want to do my own part to give back a little bit and spread a little bit of joy, make it easier for people,” she said, donations in hand.

She believes the pandemic crisis is bringing out the best in people.

“I think it’s human nature finally kicking back in,” she said. “It’s nice to see, and hopefully it continues.”

mbalogh@postmedia.com