Office Depot is donating 200,000 sackpacks to children in need. This is their 16th year to donate! |
For 16 years straight, Office Depot has been donating sack packs with school supplies in them for the National Backpack Program. By the end of this year, the total number donated will exceed 4,000,000 (200,000 this year alone). That's a lot of zeroes. Kudos to them for taking the steps to make such a big, positive difference for the kids who really need one. The designs are colorful and fun, and sure to make any child who receives one a very happy back-to-schooler.
Getting your school supplies is always a big part of the back-to-school fun, isn't it? Office Depot has thought of that too: Inside of each sturdy sackpack is a clear pouch with a pen, pencil, crayons, ruler with stencils, eraser, and pencil sharpener.
Donating a backpack is an easy way to help a child in need. It may seem small to you, but I can pretty much guarantee it's going to be a very big deal to the children on the receiving end (and to their parents too).
I ABSOLUTELY love this initiative and I love Office Depot too!
OFFICE DEPOT FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 16TH YEAR OF NATIONAL BACKPACK PROGRAM BY DONATING 200,000 SACKPACKS TO DESERVING CHILDREN
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 16th 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.
“We believe that every child should have the opportunity to go to school with dignity and hope,” says Office Depot Foundation President Mary Wong. “For most children, the first day of school is an exciting time complete with new clothes and back-to-school gear. But for kids in families where money is tight, the experience can be just the opposite. The sackpacks and school supplies we donate help to level the playing field and give these wonderful children a reason to stand just a little bit taller.”
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 at www.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.
About the Office Depot Foundation
The Office Depot Foundation is an independent foundation − tax exempt under IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) − that serves as the independent charitable giving arm of Office Depot, Inc. In keeping with its mission, Listen Learn Care®, the Foundation supports a variety of programs that give children tools to succeed in school and in life; build the capacity of nonprofit organizations through collaboration and innovation; and help communities prepare for disasters, as well as recovering and rebuilding afterwards. For more information, visit www.officedepotfoundation.org.
Hi Rosey - couldn't agree more ... what a great concept - and all the goodies must cheer many a heart - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome thing to do!
ReplyDeleteAwesome initiative indeed, as sadly, many are sure in need of little things like backpacks for sure.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and so needed. There are many kids who can't afford school supplies. I'm glad to know that Office Depot has continually been helping them out.
ReplyDeleteThis is so great! I love when bigger companies give back to their communities, it's so heartwarming! Good for you for shedding light on this!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they did that! How nice! Those supplies will always be handy.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that they do everything they can to help out! A lot of kids do not really have the means to get school supplies for the semester and it's nice that a company like Office Depot is helping them out.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great initiative and definitely needed.
ReplyDeleteCool ideas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea! I love this initiative so much.
ReplyDeleteThose are cute bags. My bogs would love using these
ReplyDeleteWow, I have never heard of Office Depot doing this. How wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love that Office Depot helps to put these sacks into the hands of the kids who need them most. We have a backpack drive each year at our Salvation Army community center and it's unbelievable how long the line gets. It's sad that so many can't afford the basic bts supplies, so when a company gives back like this, it makes me want to support them even more!
ReplyDeleteThose are cute! My daughter has loved back to school shopping this year.
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute and colorful! I love those bag designs
ReplyDeleteWow that's a lot of donations for those in need for school. Great job office depot!
ReplyDeleteIts great that the depot has been donating, great job and love the bag designs.
ReplyDeleteWow! I didn't even know they did that! So amazing!
ReplyDeleteThose are really cute and I also bet it to my kids.
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful that they do this. Is that a Space Invaders bag!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing thing Office Depot is doing! Thanks for sharing their charitable work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great company. The Office Depot by my house closed down. I'll have to look where they are located now. I like to go there.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful program. Kids need backpacks for school, but not everyone can afford them. I really love when companies give back to the community like this.
ReplyDeleteSuch an awesome cause! Anything that donates and gives to children is amazing to me :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is such an amazing campaign! I love it so much! Kudos to Office Depot, indeed!
ReplyDeleteWow! 16 years of helping small communities is such a wonderful news. Please keep it up and never stop helping those in need!
ReplyDeleteI've always liked Office Depot more than Staples, good to hear them raising donations like that! I'm interested in donating as well, thanks for the details!
ReplyDeleteOh, good for them. I like buying stuff from company who has a heart for less fortunate.
ReplyDeletei loved reading more about the Office Depot Foundation. Great to hear about this raising donations.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that people are getting help. One thing I did wish is... maybe someone is not of poverty level but they are having a hard month...they should get the help too.
ReplyDeleteThis is quiet amazing that Office Depot has been donating sack packs with school supplies for so many years. Such a wonderful campaign to help kids in need and these supplies looks great in quality for sure!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they did this, awesome! Gives me a reason to shop there.
ReplyDeleteWe have a big school donation every year where we live and I always put something in the barrel for kids to have. I think it is so neat what Office Depot does for kids!
ReplyDeleteI read about this last year! This is so amazing that they do this for kids. One more reason to love shopping there.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that Office Depot offers this! This is simply amazing! I will plan on shopping here more.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize how long they have been donating. That is amazing. We love Office Depot!
ReplyDeleteGood job on Office Depot for donating those items! For sure the recipients of those would be happy and glad to receive it.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, even more reason to continue loving Office Depot. 16 years is a long time and a lot of happy faces and smiles I am sure
ReplyDeleteThis is so good. Any type of donation needs to be appreciated and this one is so special; 16 years!! I am amazed.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Office Depot supported the backpacks for kids! Just one more reason to continue to purchase here!
ReplyDeleteI love that they do this!
ReplyDeleteI need to get mine up!