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Soles for Souls: The Compassionate Store that Helps the Less Fortunate How a Syracuse Store Uses Kindness to Step up in Times of Need

By Geraldo Reid

The Store that Prides Itself on the Betterment of the Community
© 2022 Geraldo Reid

Geraldo Reid: That is the sound you hear when you walk into Discount Repair Store. Many times we have broken a zipper, bought the wrong size belt, or torn a pair of sneakers. This store is versatile to your needs. However, they are more than just a shoe store. They donate shoes to the homeless and less fortunate. For 12 years, Ralph Rotella, the owner of the store, has been collecting and donating shoes to the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse. He recalls the time he found the inspiration to be where he is now.

Ralph Rotella: “Around Syracuse we get a lot snow around January and this guy; I was by the window watching
the snow come down and I saw this poor fellow walking with torn out shoes with his toes sticking
out, and I said ‘Wow, that’s a shame'”.

Geraldo Reid: The heights he and the store has taken has been exponential, and he is nothing short of being proud of his work.

Ralph Rotella: “I was very happy that in the first year, we collected 30 pairs. I was so excited, and I couldn’t believe it. The 30 pairs we collected were pretty good. So, the following year was 300, I opened my eyes. One (year) was thousands, wow! It makes my heart warm”.

Geraldo Reid: Mackenzie Naum, a worker at the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse spoke Ralph in glowing terms.

Mackenzie Naum: “He has donated shoes to us; Now, it will be the 12th year. Every December, all year round, he does a shoe collection, and every December, he does a big donation drop-off to us”.

Geraldo Reid: The Discount Shoe Repair Store is a source of assistance for people on many levels. Whether that is fixing a belt, fixing a jacket, or fixing a shoe itself, the Syracuse Community knows that this store serves as a beneficiary for them. What has been key to their success and their mission is lending a helping arm to homeless people, giving them a platform to walk on, especially in daunting temperatures. After all, we will never know what it feels like to walk in their shoes. In Syracuse I’m Geraldo Reid, reporting for N-C-C News.

Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – For most, putting on a pair of footwear is second nature. It is the norm for whenever we go out, one of the last components of an outfit is to find a pair of shoes, sneakers or heels to match. However, how is it for people who can’t afford this luxury?

Up steps Discount Shoe Repair.

The store that fixes clothing materials but specializes in fixing shoes is a place that people can depend on. However, for homeless individuals in need of shoes to put on their feet, this store plays an even more important role.

For Ralph Rotella, owner of Discount Shoe Repair, helping the less fortunate and those whom he sees in need of assistance with shoes is vital. He has been donating shoes to homeless individuals and the Rescue Mission of Alliance for over a decade. He recognizes the importance of having footwear, even more so when the weather reaches frigid temperatures. It was this instance that inspired Rotella to begin donating shoes.

“Around Syracuse, we get a lot of snow around January and this guy; I was by the window watching the snow come down and I saw this poor fellow walking with torn out shoes with his toes sticking out, and I said ‘Wow, that’s a shame,'” he said. 

He’s received recognition for collecting and donating thousands of shoes since he began his mission of assisting people.

Figures like Mayor Ben Walsh have paid a visit to his store on East Washington Street in downtown Syracuse. Nevertheless, his journey to huge numbers began with small growth.

He says he is grateful for the work he has done and how it has impacted the community. 

“I was very happy that in the first year, we collected 30 pairs. I was so excited, and I couldn’t believe it. The 30 pairs we collected were pretty good. So, the following year was 300, I opened my eyes. One (year) was thousands, wow! It makes my heart warm,” Rotella said. 

Mackenzie Naum, a worker at the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse spoke about the role Rotella has on the non-profit organization. 

“He has donated shoes to us; Now, it will be the 12th year. Every December, all year round, he does a shoe collection, and every December, he does a big donation drop-off to us,” Raum said. 

Shoes collected and donated will benefit Rescue Mission stores in the CNY Area. The store is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

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