ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Dozens of homeless people in Rochester will start out the winter season wearing shoes thanks to a generous donation. 

Holly Phan and her husband David donated 50 brand new pairs of boots to the House of Mercy after hearing about the need. 

“When I walked in and I saw the many faces that night and all of those faces were happy and smiling, I felt like I`m one of them too, said Holly Phan. They helped me. They came out to my car and got the boots.”

The local shelter services hundreds of homeless people year-round.

They say the winter months can be brutal, especially for the less fortunate. 

“We've had so many homeless people come to us with frostbite. They`ve lost toes and things like that. We just put out a cry to the community,” said House of Mercy social worker, Pam Smith. 

“Being able to put yourself in somebody else's shoes, they are having empathy for the next person and understanding their situation that they might not have,” said Michael Moore, a recipient of a pair of boots. 

Those behind the generous donation say sharing what you have is all a part of what the holidays are about. 

“I just want people to know that we all can contribute and share anything that we have for the people that need it,” said Phan.

The House of Mercy is still accepting donations of shoes.