Life & Work with Erik Sanchez of Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Sanchez.

Hi Erik , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi my name is Erik, I didn’t start The MASA Project with a business plan, a budget, or an audience. I started it with a few sandwiches and a broken heart for what I was seeing in my community.

Years ago, I was walking the same streets I now serve—seeing people sleeping along the canals, families struggling quietly, and individuals battling addiction with no real support system. I had my own health battles, financial struggles, and personal setbacks, but I couldn’t unsee the need. So I started small: making food in my kitchen, loading it into my car, and handing it out directly to people who were hungry. No cameras. No donations. Just obedience to the calling to help.

What started as a few meals turned into nightly outreach. Then hygiene kits. Then clothing. Then transportation to detox and rehab. Then emergency housing support. Then tens of thousands of meals served. Today, The MASA Project feeds over 56,000 people a year, operates entirely without paid staff, and runs on volunteers, faith, and community support. Every dollar we receive goes back into people—never into profit.

Along the way, I launched MASA Project Stories to show the real faces behind homelessness, recovery, and survival. The purpose was never fame—it was transparency, accountability, and reminding the world that these are human beings, not statistics. The ad revenue from that channel helps fund our outreach so we can continue serving night after night.

The road hasn’t been easy. I’ve faced serious health issues, public attacks, false accusations, and moments where it would have been easier to quit. But every time I think about stopping, I think about the people who are still out there tonight—hungry, scared, and unseen. That’s why I keep going.

Today, MASA stands for more than meals. It stands for restoration, dignity, second chances, and community-powered change. We don’t just feed the body—we fight for the soul. And we’re just getting started.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all—it’s been anything but smooth. The work itself is heavy. You’re walking with people through addiction, mental illness, trauma, hunger, and loss on a daily basis. Some don’t make it. Some relapse. Some disappear. Carrying that emotionally never gets easier.

On a personal level, I’ve faced serious health challenges while still running nightly outreach. There were times I could barely walk, yet still showed up because people were counting on us. Financially, there were moments where I covered outreach costs out of my own pocket just to make sure nobody went without food or shelter that night.

We’ve also faced public attacks, false accusations, and deliberate attempts to discredit our work. When you serve the most vulnerable, you become a target—especially when you refuse to operate for profit or clout. That part has been painful, but it’s also strengthened my resolve to stay transparent and grounded.

The biggest struggle, though, is burnout—the constant tension between wanting to save everyone and knowing you can’t. I’ve had to learn that impact is about consistency, not perfection.

None of this has been easy. But every struggle clarified the mission. Every obstacle proved that what we’re doing matters. And every life touched reminds me exactly why we keep going.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While I do have special needs, (High Functioning Autism) At my core, I’m an artist and a creative. I don’t just serve meals—I use storytelling, media, and real-time human connection to change how people see the unsheltered and those battling addiction. For too long, these communities have been reduced to statistics, stereotypes, and fear. My work is about restoring their humanity in the public eye.

Through The MASA Project and MASA Project Stories, I combine outreach with creative advocacy. We feed people first—but we also amplify their voices. Film has been one of my most powerful tools. It cuts through judgment and lets people see who someone really is before their addiction, trauma, or housing status ever existed. That shift in perspective is where real change begins.

What sets me apart is that I don’t operate from a distance. I live in the work. I’m with people in their hardest moments and their first moments of hope. The art is not staged—it’s lived. The stories aren’t scripted—they’re real. Every frame, every meal, every conversation is aimed at breaking stigma and building empathy.

What I’m most proud of is seeing public perception change in real time—watching someone go from being “written off” online to being supported, prayed for, and rooted for by thousands of people who now see them as human. That’s where art meets impact. That’s the space I live in.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’d say the most important lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t save everyone—but you can love everyone. Early on, I carried the weight of every outcome. Every relapse felt like a failure. Every loss felt personal. Over time, I learned that my responsibility is obedience, not control. I’m called to show up consistently, to love without conditions, and to offer the path—but each person has to choose it for themselves.

I’ve also learned that real impact is built in the unseen moments. Not the viral videos. Not the recognition. But the quiet rides to detox at 3 a.m. The private conversations when someone is ready to surrender. The meal shared with someone who hasn’t been treated like a human in years. Those moments don’t always make headlines—but they change lives.

Finally, I’ve learned that resilience is rooted in purpose. When you’re anchored to why you do this, criticism can’t break you, burnout doesn’t own you, and fear doesn’t get the final word. Purpose will carry you when everything else feels heavy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themasaprojectaz.org/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themasaprojectaz?igsh=ZjdlcTR4OHk0eTZy&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@masaprojectaz?si=ybLWmbXPps2hO5sy

Image Credits
Photo Credit : Erik Sanchez (Executive Director TMPAZ)