The lights from rows of cars flashed in appreciation as Robert Espinoza’s 18-wheel sleigh roared in with a trailer filled with the gifts grateful folks were anticipating — food.

“There’s a lot of excitement when I get there,” said Espinoza about one of his recent trips to a northern Arizona reservation. “It feels like I’m Santa Claus."

St. Mary’s Food Bank employs Espinoza as a full-time truck driver, hauling much needed goods throughout the Valley and beyond.

The increased demand for nourishment during the global pandemic cast a high beam on Espinoza’s vital role. As a mentor and football coach for Westview’s successful program, Espinoza also is a pillar in Avondale.

He also travels and coaches with a bunch of enthusiasm.

“Robert has been very positive since the first day we hired him a couple of years ago,” said St. Mary’s Food Bank's transportation manager Ron Tillett about one of his 45 drivers. “He’s got great customer skills. We are in the business of customer service. Period. He does the majority of our long runs and is very dependable. I count on him to do some of our high profile runs for us. He’s got a great outlook on life.”

Early wake up calls don’t seem to dampen Espinoza's spirits.

He’s regularly up at 2:30 a.m. to get ready for work before he’s on the road again. The food Espinoza and his valuable team at St. Mary’s Food Bank are supplying is sprinkled with some hope.

He said he witnessed a lot of panic in peoples’ eyes when the pandemic started.

"A lot of them were probably asking if this was going to be the last time they received a food box,” he said.

But just like Santa Clause, Espinoza and St. Mary’s Food Bank keep delivering and easing fears.

At Westview, Espinoza distributes a heavy dose of important life lessons as the freshman head coach and as a varsity assistant.

Those lessons are presently being administered online because of the school closures. Espinoza is in his fifth season at Westview, his alma-mater.

“Robert is super positive and a great influence on our kids,” Westview’s head varsity coach Nick Gehrts said. “He’s very active in our community, and he really reflects what Westview's students athletes are and what we represent. He’s a blue collar working guy and builds relationships."

Look no further than Espinoza's home for a shining example of relationship building as well as compassion.

He and his co-captain of 17 years, his wife Nicole, and their five kids opened their doors to a Westview student who lacked a stable home environment. Since August, the student has been living with the Espinozas.

“He’s a good kid who deserves an opportunity at a good life,” Espinoza said. “We are stable enough where we can provide that opportunity. It was a no brainer.”

Helping his community is second nature to the 40-year-old Espinoza.

He credits his faith and parents for teaching him the importance of selflessly serving his fellow man.

“I like to mentor and get kids mentally prepared not only for football but also for life, teaching you values of life and how to handle adversity,” Espinoza said. “To see kids grow into young men is an awesome experience to see.

“If there’s a crisis, you need to step up to the occasion and help out the next person.”