Words by Kay Kudukis
It was a desert day like most any other: sunny, clear skies. And although it was hot, it was cool in the shade. Even cooler in the mountains, where Marel Ancira had been staying off and on.
She’s not sure what brought her down to Revivals Cathedral City that day. Maybe it was boredom. Maybe she was chasing that hit of dopamine one gets from shopping. Either way, she was not expecting to fall in love, but there they were: a pair of black Mary Janes.
She had no business wanting those shoes, she thought. Not practical at all for the mountains. But boy, they sure were cute!
She half hoped they’d be too big, but when she slipped them on, she felt like Cinderella — no need for the fella. They were the perfect fit.
Ancira checked the price tag. $8. She pulled her cash out of her pants pocket and glanced down. $2. She frowned. Not nearly enough. She looked at the shoes again. She knew she didn’t need them, but she absolutely, 100% had to have them. She took a deep breath and got in line.
When it was her turn, Ancira put the shoes on the counter in front of a lady she describes as “very business-like, beautiful, older, short hair.”
“And I said, ‘I can’t afford these. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I’m homeless, but I want the shoes. I have two bucks. What can I do? Can I put them on hold?’” Ancira recalls.
The woman asked Ancira if she could wait a minute. She needed to check on something. She’d be right back.
In another time and place in her life, Ancira could have purchased 15 pairs of those shoes with her hourly rate as a personal trainer. That was when she had a house and drove an Audi. That was when she painted canvases full of butterflies and flowers. That was when she’d tried on two husbands — neither a good fit.
And then there were (as Paul Simon writes) “incidents and accidents, hints and allegations” that shaped a future she did not recognize. The child in her was an artist, a painter, and a singer with dreams of being a movie star. Being forced to live on the streets had never occurred to her. Now, it was her reality.
The very business-like older woman returned with an envelope, held it out to Ancira with a smile, and said, “Now you can get the shoes and maybe something else.” Inside was a $20 gift certificate to be spent at the store.
“I got the shoes, and I got a top, I believe,” Ancira remembers happily, as her eyes fill with the memory of that kindness. “And I want it to be known how good, how professional, respectful, and giving they all are [at Revivals]. I want to say ‘thank you’ in public, big time.”
“Hearing Marel’s story filled me with happiness, not just because she found support at Revivals, but because it reminded me how deeply our mission resonates in the lives of others. Over the years, many have shared their thanks, but for me, it’s never been about the words. It’s about knowing we were there when someone was struggling, and that we made a real difference. That’s what warms my heart. My team lives these values every day, offering water, blankets, even clothing, to ensure that Revivals remains a place of compassion and care for our entire community.”
— Joseph Sandberg, Revivals Cathedral City Store Manager
“Revivals was founded to help people — that’s never changed,” adds DAP Health Chief of Retail, Logistics, and Volunteer Services Dane Koch. “From the beginning, we’ve been more than just a store. We’re an important, beloved community resource. There are thousands of untold stories like Marel’s, and by sharing hers, we honor every quiet act of kindness that happens here every day. When someone chooses to donate, shop, or volunteer at Revivals, they’re not just making a transaction — they’re creating moments of grace and humanity. That’s what’s not to spare.”
Today, Ancira’s situation hasn’t changed, but neither have her dreams. She’d still like to be in the movies, but the realist in her knows that’s less obtainable than teaching art to kids, something she’s been thinking about for a while. She just needs to give herself the chance.
