LAPLACE — The River Region Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to help new teachers have a successful 2016-17 school year.

In order to help those who will be molding the minds of local youths, the Chamber is asking members to donate school supplies for the upcoming New Teacher Orientation for teachers in St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Charles Parishes.

Chamber Executive Director Chassity McComack said the Chamber would be collecting items through July 1.

“This is an opportunity for members to promote their business and a way for the Chamber, as a whole, to say ‘thanks for committing to educate our future workforce,’” McComack said. “We aren’t looking for specific items. Any promo pieces that businesses have from mini notebooks, pens, pencils, koozies, lunch totes, etc.”

The items will be stuffed into goodie bags for each new teacher.

The Chamber’s education committee has been collecting items for three years, McComack said.

Items can be dropped off from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily at the Chamber office, located at 390 Belle Terre Blvd. in LaPlace.

The New Teacher Orientation events are put on by each parish school system as a way to introduce new teachers, McComack said.

“The three parish school systems estimated total is 200 new teachers,” McComack said. “Each district has a separate date for their district. The education committee will divvy up and volunteer to attend and hand out bags between the three parishes.”