By Sara Beth Williams–
For nearly a decade, Alfred Sanchez, better known as “Snack Man,” to unhoused individuals in the city, has made it his mission to meet people where they are, offering food and supplies, along with connection and hope.
This year, Sanchez was nominated for the Citrus Heights Chip-In Volunteer Hall of Fame Award, a city program recognizing residents who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to serving the community.
Sanchez’s path to becoming “Snack Man” wasn’t formal or planned. It began with small, personal acts of kindness.
“When I was younger, I used to be the kind of person who, if I saw someone outside a restaurant, I’d go in and buy them a cheeseburger,” Sanchez said in an interview with The Sentinel.
While working for a landscaping company years ago, he recalls stopping by a food bank and handing out beanies. Later, he began regularly helping an unhoused woman near Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard, buying her breakfast each day. One morning, he noticed she wasn’t alone. There were several others nearby who also needed help.
The turning point came about eight-and-a-half years ago when Sanchez had leftover Halloween candy from a large display at his home. He packaged the candy into small bags and brought them out to distribute.
“I used that as a reason to talk to people,” he said. “And as I talked to them, I realized they just want someone to talk to.”
What started as handing out seven snack bags a day grew to 11, then 20, and now around 28 daily. Today, Sanchez also distributes clean, new socks, hygiene supplies, and resource information across Citrus Heights, funding much of it himself at a cost of about $80 to $100 per month.
“I consider myself triage,” Sanchez said. “I find people where they’re at and work from there.”
He has witnessed the harsh realities of life on the street firsthand, from serious untreated medical conditions to those who refuse medical services to those who are stuck out in the cold and rain with nowhere to go.
Still, he continues.
“For the last eight years, it’s been structured,” Sanchez said. “I’ve got regular routes. I’m out there consistently.”
His work goes beyond basic necessities. Sanchez frequently researches and shares information about local programs, such as housing assistance, food, and health programs.
He also participates in and promotes free meal services offered by local churches and organizations, including weekly meals and other resources offered through Grace House, Celtic Cross, Advent Lutheran, Holy Family Catholic church, and Living Water ministries.
“The beauty of what I do is I get to send them to places for help,” he said.
His advocacy is rooted in personal experience. Decades ago, Sanchez found himself temporarily homeless after losing his housing due to a dispute with roommates. Though he had a steady job, he was forced to live in his car while saving money for a new place.
“That made me super empathetic,” he said. “I realized how something like that could happen to anyone.”
Sanchez, who is now disabled after losing his leg earlier in life, has lived in Citrus Heights since shortly after the city’s incorporation and says he takes pride in being part of the community. Once involved in criminal activity in his younger years, he now reflects on the contrast.
“I own a condo now,” he said. “I used to be a criminal, and now I’m getting letters that say ‘Dear homeowner.’”
Sanchez’s advocacy extends into civic spaces as well. In earlier years, he said he would contact parole officers on behalf of individuals and filed complaints for those who were afraid to come forward themselves.
He actively speaks with city officials, city council members, and police leadership about concerns, including what he describes as inconsistent enforcement and treatment of homeless individuals.
Over the years, his outreach has continued to evolve. He organizes an annual sock drive each March, collects leftover Halloween candy in November, and hosts a Homeless Persons Memorial Day each Dec. 21 at a local Mexican restaurant, where attendees can receive a free meal and honor those who have passed away in the given year.
The event, now in its seventh year, drew about 50 people in December 2025.
Sanchez said those losses weigh heavily. He recalled several individuals who have died in recent years, including Alecia “Allie” Sotelo in 2024, Scotty in 2025, and Adam Kampf in early 2026.
As Citrus Heights recognizes volunteers through its Chip-In Hall of Fame program, Sanchez’s nomination highlights a type of service that often goes unseen, one rooted in persistence, empathy, and daily, face-to-face interaction.
For many in the community, “Snack Man” is more than a nickname. It’s a reflection of a commitment that shows up every day, one small act of kindness at a time.
