One holiday tradition continues to grow in success, support and reach helping New Yorkers.

More than 10 years ago, cobbler Ralph Rotella saw a homeless man with his toe sticking out of a shoe. He stopped the man and fixed the shoe.

That sparked the idea of fixing as many shoes as his friends and neighbors would donate, and he would give them to the rescue mission to help the needy. That one shoe years ago has grown to more than 38,841 shoes being donated to the Syracuse Rescue Mission this year.

Pickup morning has also become a community party of sorts with music, food and even chestnuts on a fire.

Rotella was not the only one giving on Shoe Drive Day. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Deputy Commissioner of Parks Mark Nicotra surprised Rotella on donation day, officially marking December 14 as “Ralph Rotella Day” in the county.

Last year, Rotella’s efforts resulted in an impressive collection of more than 37,000 pairs of shoes. Since 2011, Rotella and friends have donated 211,709 pairs of shoes. He hopes to get that total to more than 250,000 by next Christmas.