Ralph’s Shoe Drive Leaves Big Footprint in Syracuse Ralph's Shoe Drive Leaves Big Footprint

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– Walk into Ralph Rotella’s shoe repair shop in Downtown Syracuse and you’ll see a cobbler known for his personality and espresso. Ralph has owned this shop for 45 years. If you go into the back room, you’ll see boxes and bags of shoes. For the last eight years, Ralph has held a shoe drive.

It all started when he saw a homeless man walking in the snow with torn up shoes. He brought the man inside and figured out his shoe size.

“I went in the back and grabbed a beautiful pair of boots,” Ralph said. “He put it on and it fit like a glove. He left the other shoes behind. Walked away. Never said thank you. Nothing. As soon as he left I said, you know I got so many shoes. Why don’t I start a shoe drive.”

Ralph took his idea and ran with it. His annual shoe drive grew quickly. He collected 35 pairs his first year. Then a couple hundred and a couple thousand in years after. Last year, Ralph donated 17,000 pairs to the Rescue Mission. He’s close to surpassing that number this year.

Ralph doesn’t just donate the shoes. Some shoes are brand new, but others are in need of some TLC. So he repairs many of them in his free time.

Ralph has become a local legend around Syracuse. Just ask John Sereno. He’s been a customer of Ralph’s for 10 years.

“He’s a little guy but he’s got a huge heart,” Sereno said. “He’s got a huge heart. What he does for the community in providing them with all these shoes. I mean, that’s just phenomenal.”

Ralph’s shoe drive isn’t just reaching the Syracuse community.

“They come from Utica and Binghamton,” he said. “People come from all over. I even have people send shoes from Canada to have me fix up.”

Plus, the drive continues year-round.

“I don’t do just for a couple of months,” Ralph said.  “Everybody does stuff around Christmas. They should do all year around.”

The Rescue Mission picks up shoes every three months. The final pickup date for his shoe drive is December 18th. Based on the community support, Ralph is a shoe-in to reach his goal of 17,000 pairs.