Alfred Sanchez Drives-to-Sock Homeless Population with Warmth

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Alfred Sanchez has spent the last month socking it to cold feet. Sanchez (59) known as “Snack Man” in Citrus Heights, has launched many charitable projects for the homeless since 2018. Each year for his birthday he holds a new ‘collection’ drive to make a difference for the homeless populace in his neighborhood on Greenback Lane. One year it was sleeping bags. This year it’s socks.

Sanchez is a familiar face to the homeless population, and the retailers he works with to carry out his projects. Being an amputee doesn’t stop him from taking his electric scooter, the ‘snackmobile’ out to “spread love, one snack at a time” which is his motto. He says he likes to think of himself as “someone who embraces those who others turn their backs on.”

What he does is important to Sanchez in many ways. Besides collecting, sorting, packaging and distributing hundreds of snacks and other items seven days a week, he works hard to advocate for those he serves. Sanchez says there is a lot of behind the scenes work as a homeless liaison between the City and his ‘customers’. He informs them of their rights and where they can find other services.

The Grocery Outlet store at 6059 Greenback Lane, Citrus Heights is a firm supporter of Sanchez’s efforts. As a family owned ‘Mom and Pop’ run store, they are committed to the needs of their Citrus Heights community, working with a myriad of nonprofits, city and service organizations. It is this connection to their neighborhood that makes it possible for Sanchez to do what he does. He says he could not carry out his mission without their partnership - donating products and giving him helpful discounts. He shops on ‘Senior Day” for his snacks, which is imperative as he buys by the hundreds of cases of goodies! 

Store co-owner with husband Paul, Sara Wheeler suggested to Sanchez, a frequent customer, and as she says “a fixture in our community”, to put out a bin for his sock donations. To date several hundred pairs of foot warmers have been donated by Grocery Outlet shoppers, the public, and even City officials. Sanchez says he hopes to gather double that by the end of March and beyond.   

At end of his sock campaign, Sanchez, now also known as “Sock Man”, will load up the booty on his sizeable scooter and continue to make rounds to his homeless neighbors, ensuring they have warm feet along with contented stomachs. Sock donations will continue to be accepted into the month of April.

C.H. Grocery Outlet on Facebook: citrusheightsgroceryoutlet.com

Snack Man on Face Book and U-tube: “thesnackmancitrusheights