Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- A Syracuse shoe repairman is taking part in an effort that you might say has plenty of “sole.” As he’s done in the past, Ralph Rotella is collecting old shoes and making them as good as new. He then turns those shoes over to the Syracuse Rescue Mission.
Rotella is a cobbler who cares. The past two Christmas seasons, he’s collected old shoes, shined them up and put new heels and soles on them. He then ships them off to the Rescue Mission.
He wasn’t planning on starting up this yearly program so early in the year, but people kept bringing old shoes his way.
Rotella believes everyone deserves to wear a good pair of comfortable shoes. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. If you lined up all the shoes toe to heal that Rotella has repaired and donated, it would run the length of two city blocks.
If you have an old pair of shoes you’d like to add to Rotella’s growing pile, you can drop them off at his store during regular business hours. Rotella’s store is located in the University building at 116 East Washington Street in downtown Syracuse.
