For Ralph Rotella, repairing shoes is all in a day’s work. And it's also in his DNA.

"My uncle was a shoemaker. He said 'why don't you come and work with me?' So, he took me in, he retired a few years back and I took over his place," Rotella said.

He has made this place his own. Moving with the beat of the machine has become his passion.

"I love my job very much because I've been doing it since I was 16," Rotella said.

It's rare for there to be a dull moment because Ralph always has a task to complete.

"That's why I'm so nice and slim," Ralph said proudly. "I basically, I don't have to do any exercise, my exercise is just running around."

Some of his time is spent shining shoes. Rotella said over the years, he's lost track of just how many pairs have passed through his hands.

Even though work keeps him busy, as the boss he knows exactly when to take a break. He stops to make an espresso, which is his specialty.

"For a shoemaker, I make the best espresso," Ralph said.

Without missing a beat, he heads to another room. Behind this door is where he stores the shoes that he gives away to those in need. Ralph said he was inspired to do this after seeing a man walking outside with no shoes. And the rest they say is history. Since that day, he's repaired and donated thousands of shoes. Just last year he donated 18,000. His goal for 2020 is 20,000, but because of the pandemic, he's not sure if he'll get there.

"That's okay. It's always next year," he said.

Until then, it's back to work because Ralph takes the job of helping souls and soles seriously.

If you have shoes to donate, you can drop them off to Ralph at his shop.  It's located at 114 East Washington Street in Syracuse. He's there Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.