The founder of Tote Me Home, a program to provide food to needy schoolchildren in Collinsville, Caseyville and Maryville, was given the Spirit of Excellence Award by the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce, Saturday.

Joyce Biegert is presented the Spirit of Excellence Award by Matt Wyatt, Chamber Board President / Photo by Rick Owens

Joyce Biegert, of Collinsville, earned the award for her lengthy volunteer history. A resident of more than 20 years, Biegert said her community involvement began when she was branch manager and vice president for the Bank of Edwardsville’s Collinsville Branch.

Now retired, Biegert was initially required by the bank to become involved in the community, but found that she loved charitable work. Along with Tote Me Home, Biegert is a member of the Collinsville Lions Club and the Collinsville Rotary Club.

The charitable endeavor for which she is most proud, Biegert said, is the 4-year-old Tote Me Home program. Run in conjunction with the Collinsville Area Food Pantry, Tote Me Home has grown from providing food to eight Krietner Elementary School students in its first year to now assisting 60 children at all of the schools in Collinsville, Caseyville and Maryville, Biegert said.

Every week of the school year, Biegert, the Ladies Auxiliary and the Knights of Columbus meet at the food pantry to fill tote bags with food for students who principals and teachers have identified as being in special need. Through Biegert’s efforts, the United Way recently accepted the program as one of its beneficiaries. Tote Me Home, which costs about $18,000 per year, will also receive funds from the 2013 Festival of Trees event on Dec. 4 at the Gateway Convention Center.

The kids return the tote bags to school to be filled with more food. Not all come back to Biegert in perfect condition.

“Some of the bags have holes in them because they are heavy and the kids have to drag them home,” Biegert said with pride.