Three Ontario residents have gained a massive online following by patching potholes in London, Toronto and Scarborough, and have launched a GoFundMe campaign to expand their volunteer operation. The trio, operating under the Instagram account @sanchez.ontario, started posting videos of their handiwork in May and have since amassed 24,500 followers and 10.8 million views.
Personal Motivation Behind the Mission
Karam Alfarra, who goes by Sanchez, explained the driving force behind the initiative. "Two years ago I lost people I loved because of a dangerous pothole," he posted on Instagram. "Since that day, I can't look at broken roads the same way. So I started patching dangerous potholes around Ontario as a volunteer with my own time, my own hands, and my own money." He added, "I know I can't fix every road, but if one patch makes one drive safer, it's worth it."
Community Response and Support
The videos have sparked widespread support. One Instagram user commented, "That is awesome! I sure wish you were in Edmonton … our roads are a huge hazard!" Another directed them to Arthur Street South in Elmira, which was rated the second worst road in Waterloo Region this year. Some expressed concern about potential fines, referencing incidents in the UK where street cleaners were penalized.
Patching in Action
A video from London, Ont., shows the trio hauling bags of ready-made asphalt from a red car and dumping it into a pothole. They use shovels, a rake, a cordless leaf blower, a broom, and a plate compactor, while orange pylons mark their work zone. They wear safety vests and work gloves. "One of our followers from the 520 Mornington area told us that kids have been constantly falling and getting hurt because of this pothole," Sanchez said. "They also mentioned that when it rains, it causes problems for cars passing through the area."
GoFundMe Campaign for Expansion
The trio purchased their own equipment and started a GoFundMe campaign to support expansion. As of Friday afternoon, they had raised $2,089 toward a $30,000 goal. Sanchez said on the funding page, "My name is Karam, but most people know me as Sanchez. I'm 25 years old, and I started fixing dangerous potholes across Ontario because I got tired of seeing people get hurt while nobody acted fast enough. Two years ago, we lost one of our friends because of a dangerous pothole. That moment changed everything for me." He added, "What started with just a few people and basic tools has now turned into a growing movement across Ontario. We now have volunteers in multiple cities who are ready to help repair roads, protect drivers, and make our communities safer. Our goal is to build a station in every city across Ontario so we can respond faster and repair more roads before accidents happen."
