Office Depot Foundation National Backpack Program Donates 200,000 Sackpacks & School Supplies

For the past 16 years, the Office Depot Foundation has been giving children important tools they need to succeed in school – and in life - at the beginning of the new school year. 

This year is no exception.  In 2016, the Foundation - the independent charitable giving arm of Office Depot^® (NASDAQ:ODP) - is celebrating the 16^th year of its award-winning National Backpack Program by donating 200,000 colorful new sackpacks to nonprofit organizations, schools and agencies across the United States and internationally. 

By the end of 2016, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation will have given away more than 4 million backpacks and sackpacks since the National Backpack Program began in 2001. 

To deliver sackpacks directly to children, the Foundation is hosting Back-to-School Celebrations in select cities across the U.S. in July and August. 

Thousands more sackpacks are being given to kids through the Office Depot Foundation’s continuing partnerships with a number of nonprofit organizations serving children nationally and globally. The Foundation is collaborating with the AARP Experience Corps, the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association, Feed the Children, Food For The Poor, the Kids In Need Foundation, the National Foundation for Women Legislators, Operation Homefront and Samaritan’s Feet International. For the eighth consecutive year, children of the Navajo Nation in Arizona will receive sackpacks.

The specially designed, drawstring-style sackpacks come in seven bright and colorful designs – several of which are new for 2016.  Each one includes a zippered pouch containing a pen, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, six-inch ruler and four crayons. The sackpacks do not have any Office Depot Foundation or Office Depot logos or markings.

More information about the National Backpack Program can be found on the Office Depot Foundation’s Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/officedepotfoundation. To learn more about the Office Depot Foundation and its initiatives, go to www.officedepotfoundation.org/. You can follow the Foundation on Twitter @OfficeDepotFndn; the National Backpack Program’s hashtag is #ODFcares.  The Foundation is also on Instagram: @officedepotfoundation.

My Thoughts 

Office Depot is making a difference all over the world this back to school season. They are making sure no child goes without by offering up some nifty sack-packs and school supplies to go along with them. The bags come in a variety of cool deigns flowers, blocks, and camo. They are sturdy bags that will work great for carrying books but will also come in handy for lunging clothes to gym class or for extra curricular activities. 

Inside each bag is another fun surprise. Each sackpacks includes some much needed school supplies including a pen, pencil, crayons, a pencil sharpener and even a ruler. All these items are packed inside a clear zippered pencil case. 

My children were really impressed with the quality of these items but we are even more impressed by the generosity of the Office Depot. In these difficult economic times it's not always easy for parents to stay ahead of the game. There are so many expenses this time of year, its nice to know someone is looking out for the kids to make sure they have the tools they need to further their education.