The Office Depot Foundation National Backpack program

Disclaimer:  I was given products in this post for the purpose of review.  I was not paid in anyway to write this review.  All opinions are my own.
When I started kindergarten I was poor!  I remember we scraped change together to get me school supplies and my school clothing was hand me downs for my cousin.  No this mama has nothing against hand me downs, most of Quinn's clothing use to be Brandon's.  But that is all I had growing up.  It wasn't until 4th grade that my dad had a job change and we started to be able to live easier.
Those first couple of school years were rough though and I still remember counting out change to buy crayons and pencils.

As a little girl who been in that position I am sure you know why I love programs like The Office Depot Foundation National Backpack program.
For 16 years they have been giving children around the world the tools they need to succeed in school.

Not only do kiddos get much needed supplies, they also get a sack to help hold their books and other school items.


MORE INFORMATION
- 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 atwww.facebook.com/officedepotfoundation. To learn more about the Office Depot Foundation and its initiatives, go towww.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.


The generous people running this foundation sent me several backpacks with supplies.  Even though my family can afford to buy everything we need several people at my church are not as lucky.  I was able to give these supplied filled sacks to some family who really needed them.  I wish I would have taken their photo the look of gratitude on those kiddos face was enough to make me cry!!