Office Depot Hosts 'Backpack Donation Day' On August 31 in Wethersfield, Connecticut

Office Depot Hosts 'Backpack Donation Day' On August 31 in Wethersfield, Connecticut

More than 1,500 Backpacks Will Be Donated to 10 Non-Profit Organizations and Elementary Schools; Children Will Also Receive Backpacks at the Event

HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
WHAT: Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office
products and services, will celebrate "Backpack Donation Day" in
Wethersfield, CT. In collaboration with the company's National
Backpack Program, more than 1,500 backpacks will be presented to
10 different non-profit organizations and elementary schools that
work with disadvantaged children.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050801/FLM019LOGO )

This event will take place on August 31 and begin promptly at
2:00 p.m. at Office Depot's retail store in Wethersfield, CT.

This year, through the National Backpack Program, Office Depot
will donate more than 300,000 backpacks containing basic school
supplies to underprivileged and "at-risk" kids through area non-
profit organizations and Title One schools that help kids
throughout the country - just in time for kids heading back-to-
school.

Office Depot began offering its signature charitable in-kind
Backpack Program in 2001. Since its inception and including this
year, Office Depot will have placed more than 880,000 backpacks
in the hands of children across North America.

Additionally, in an effort to reach out to the community at
large, Office Depot also invited qualified non-profit
organizations to submit requests for backpacks through its
Community Relations Website for the first time. From these
requests, recipients were selected and many of those who
submitted requests will receive backpacks at the scheduled
events.

Office Depot's deep commitment to "Caring and Making a
Difference," especially in the communities in which it operates,
inspires the office supply giant to become involved with causes
and organizations that make a profound social impact.

WHEN: The event will take place Wednesday, August 31, 2005 and begin
promptly at 2:00 p.m.

WHO: HARTFORD EVENT:
* Office Depot Area Store Managers

* Representatives, board members, and children from the
following greater Hartford-based organizations will be in
attendance at the event and accept the backpacks containing
school supplies from Office Depot executives:

-- TEAM Inc.
-- CT Food Bank
-- Southend Community Services, Inc.
-- Manchester Early Learning Center
-- Community Solutions, Inc.
-- Washington School
-- Children In Placement - CT, Inc.
-- MOMS Club(R) of Wethersfield North

Backpacks will also be presented to Bristol Preschool Child Care
Center, Inc. and Verplanck Elementary School, but representatives
will not be in attendance at the event.

WHERE: Hartford Event:
Office Depot's Retail Store
1295 Silas Deane Highway
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Cross Streets: Townline Road and Mill Street
860-257-3222

VISUALS: Backpack donations to organizations and children.
Photo opportunity and media interviews with representatives from
Office Depot and benefiting organizations and children receiving
backpacks.

Members of the media, both print and broadcast are encouraged to attend. Photos and interviews will follow the event. For media representatives that are unable to attend, photographs from the events will be available by contacting Lauren Garvey at lauren@jkggroup.com ; Lisa Black at lblack@jkggroup.com ; Seth Bidder at sbidder@jkggroup.com ; or Sarah Clark at sclark@jkggroup.com.

For more information, please contact:

Lauren Garvey
JKG Group
Ph: 561-989-9931, ext 101
Cell Phone: 561-702-0178
lauren@jkggroup.com

Lisa Black
JKG Group
Ph: 561-989-9931, ext 103
lblack@jkggroup.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050801/FLM019LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Office Depot

CONTACT: Lauren Garvey, ext. 101, or cellular, +1-561-702-0178, or
lauren@jkggroup.com, or Lisa Black, ext. 103, lblack@jkggroup.com, both of JKG
Group, +1-561-989-9931, for Office Depot

Web site: http://www.officedepot.com/

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