Deadline for shoe drive for the homeless has been extended as donations 'keep coming'

Marketing consultant Jim Darling has been busy this week picking up donated shoes.

It's not really in his job description, but on Monday and Tuesday, he was at Capital Dental in southwest Bakersfield, collecting bags of shoes patients and staff had brought in.

On Monday, he was also at KGET TV, another drop-off center for donated shoes at 22nd and L streets.

"I'm there each time the drum is full or overflowing," Darling said Tuesday. "I was at Downtown (Elementary) School today and picked up an overflowing drum full of kids shoes — which the homeless center needs in a very large way."

For three or four weeks each spring, Darling's life is all about the shoes, thousands of pairs of new and gently used dress shoes, boots, slides, mules, loafers, sneakers and sandals, donated to Guarantee Shoe Center's Shoes for our Homeless Shoe Drive, an annual tradition that Darling conceived of some three decades ago with the store's owner, Rosco Rolnick.

It's an idea that still seems to be working — maybe better than ever.

So far, since the first drive in 1990, 105,000 pairs of much-needed shoes have provided for thousands of families in need, including men, women and children.

Due to what organizers say is an overwhelming demand, the 32nd Annual Shoes for our Homeless Shoe Drive has been extended to May 9.

"We are on a roll and we extended the drive to maximize the results for Open Door Network," Darling said.

Inside the downtown store Tuesday, Manager Dan Camarena and sales associate Michael Coleman matched hundreds of pairs of shoes and stacked them in large boxes for later transport to Open Door Network.

"They keep coming," Camarena said of the donated shoes.

"You've got to keep up with it. Otherwise it gets out of hand."

If the quality isn't up to snuff, the footwear doesn't make the cut.

"We want them to be able to get some wear out of them," Camarena said.

Coleman, who has worked at Guarantee for more than 23 years, said he believes the numbers are looking encouraging.

"This year, we're going to do 5,000 to 6,000 pairs, easy," he said.

The need remains strong, Camarena said.

"We've already given some shoes at the front door," he said. "People show up and say, 'I heard you have shoes for the homeless.'

"So we give them shoes."

Usable shoes can be dropped off at Guarantee Shoe Center, 21st Street and Chester Avenue in downtown Bakersfield, KGET TV, 22nd and L streets, Capital Dental Group, 8701 Camino Media, and Nona Darling, Realtor at RE/MAX Golden Empire 3955 Coffee Road.

Guarantee Shoe Center is locally owned and operated by third-generation owner, Rosco Rolnick, and his daughter, Sarah. This year marks their 71st year in business in downtown Bakersfield.

This year’s sponsors include KGET TV, Telemundo, Capital Dental, The Bakersfield Californian, Meathead Movers, GET and Nona Darling, Realtor.