A Syracuse shoe repairman has collected and fixed up more than 1,700 pairs of shoes for the needy this year. Ralph Rotella has been accepting shoe donations since last Christmas and plans to give them to the Rescue Mission next week. Our Brad Vivacqua has the story.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- This is really a remarkable effort put forth by Ralph Rotella, who has been a shoe repairman here in Syracuse for 36 years. We first introduced you to Ralph last year when he collected a little more than 300 pairs of shoes last October to December.

Ralph started quick this year and now has collected and fixed more than 1,700 pairs of shoes. He has spent countless hours at night and on weekends fixing up shoes, boots, and slippers donated by individuals and groups.

"Sometimes in the wintertime I see some people in front of the store with real bad shoes, or ripped, their feet come out of the shoes, so I say that I need to do something about it, so that's why," said Rotella, Discount Shoe Repair owner.

Rotella collects shoes in new or fair condition on a daily basis. You can find him at Discount Shoe Repair on 114 East Washington Street in Syracuse.