Shoe store spreads Christmas cheer by leaving free shoes on the sidewalk
In a heartwarming display of holiday spirit, Gabriel Benois has found a simple yet meaningful way to give back to his community.
Outside his family-owned shoe store, La Sandalia in Mérida’s Santa Ana neighborhood, a small rack filled with new footwear and gift boxes sits alongside a modest sign reading, in Spanish: “Choose the one you like, one per person. Merry Christmas.”
“This comes straight from the heart,” says Benois, who aims to help community members who might not be able to afford new shoes during the holiday season.
Benois recalls a touching moment when a young boy stopped by the display.
“He asked if he could take a pair of boots, and I told him of course he could. What touched me was that he even left a small donation,” Benois says.
While the shoes are free, Benois says some recipients insist on making donations, which he accepts.
La Sandalia’s charming storefront, which evokes the best of 20th-century downtown businesses, is on Calle 58 between 47 and 49. Look for the hand-painted sign, in cursive, over the display windows facing the sidewalk.
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