PITTSTON – The Greater Pittston Chamber Women’s Network held a second annual donation drive for backpacks, school supplies and hygiene products for the Pittston and Wyoming school districts.

School supplies collected and donated included backpacks, pens, pencils, pencil cases, binders, spiral notebooks, highlighters, colored pencils, markers, crayons, pencil sharpeners and glue sticks.

Hygiene products collected included shampoos, conditioners, shower gel, hand sanitizers, tissues, deodorants, hair clips/hairbands, lip balm, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and brushes.

The two school districts have received 375 book bags to meet a student need, but the need is still greater, according to Brandi Bartush, operations manager for the Chamber of Commerce, and next year’s numbers are expected to be exceeded.

“We exceeded our goal of 300 for this year, but we know more is needed,” Bartush said. “Even though we have more than last year, we’ve had to turn people away. It’s a humbling experience and we don’t necessarily know how great the need is unless you’re in the thick of it and doing it. We need to step up and fill that shortage.”

Bartush thanked the community and organizations for their donations and wants next year’s event to be even bigger and better than this year.

By August 9, school materials had been handed out and distributed to individual school representatives.