ADVISORY/Office Depot Hosts ``Backpack Donation Day'' on August 8.

News Editors/Education Writers

ADVISORY...for Friday (August 8)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Company Will Present More Than 20,000 Backpacks to 25 Different

South Florida Organizations at Five Local Events

WHAT:     Office Depot, Inc., (NYSE:ODP), the world's largest reseller
          of office products, will host "Backpack Donation Day"
          highlighted by five individual events throughout South
          Florida. More than 20,000 backpacks will be presented to
          25 different non-profit organizations and underprivileged
          schools.

          Events will take place at Office Depot's Corporate
          Headquarters in Delray Beach and at local retail stores in
          Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm
          Beach.

          Office Depot will hold similar events throughout the summer
          at the company's North American retail stores.

          This year, Office Depot will donate more than 200,000
          backpacks to non-profit organizations and underprivileged
          schools.

          The national in-kind backpack donation program is valued at
          more than $5 million.

WHEN:     August 8, 2003

WHO:      Bruce Nelson, Chairman and CEO of Office Depot will host the
          Delray Beach event.

          Office Depot Retail Store Events:

          --  Ruth Armentrout, Office Depot Store Manager, Boca Raton
          --  Thomas Hall, Office Depot Store Manager, Boynton Beach
          --  Andy Stone, Office Depot Store Manager, Ft. Lauderdale
          --  Ed Vestgard, Office Depot Store Manager, West Palm Beach
          --  Representatives from benefiting organizations including
              the Delray Police Department, S.D. Spady Elementary, the
              Urban League of Palm Beach and Broward Counties, Migrant
              Workers Association, Kristi House, Hugs for Children,
              Broward House, Greenacres Elementary, Redemptive Life
              Academy, Sack it to You, plus many more.

WHERE:    Schedule of Events:
          --  2200 Old Germantown Road, Building 2200, Delray Beach,
              10:30 a.m.
          --  260 North Congress Avenue, Boynton Beach, 11:00 a.m.
          --  4901 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 11:00 a.m.
          --  2627 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, 1:30 p.m.
          --  6325 North Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, 3:30 p.m.

AGENDA:   Opening Remarks

          Backpack Donations to Organizations

          Photo Opportunity and media interviews with representatives
          from Office Depot and benefiting South Florida organizations

Members of the media are encouraged to attend. Photos and interviews will follow the events. For media representatives that are unable to attend, photographs from the events will be available by contacting either Lauren Garvey via email at [e-mail] or Pamela Steele-Unger at [e-mail].