Office Depot Donates 3,500 Backpacks to Needy Children Across State of Mississippi; More Than 2,000 Backpacks Will be Presented to Biloxi Area Based Non-Profit Organizations, Schools and Children at Special Event on August 8.

Office Depot (NYSE:ODP):

Office Depot to Mark Milestone of One Million Backpacks Donated
                       Since Program's Inception

WHAT:   Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office
        products and services, is celebrating its national "Backpack
        Donation Day" in Biloxi, Miss., on Tuesday, August 8.

        More than 2,000 backpacks will be presented to six different
        organizations and schools based in Biloxi and Gulfport.
        Children will also be in attendance at the event. Also, Feed
        The Children, a national partner for this year's program will
        have a 48-foot truck on site filled with backpacks for
        distribution at the event.

        The event will mark a major milestone for the Company - Office
        Depot has now donated one million backpacks since its National
        Backpack Donation Program began in 2001.

        This year Office Depot will again donate more than 300,000
        backpacks containing basic school supplies to underprivileged
        and "at-risk" kids through national organizations, area
        non-profit organizations and Title One schools throughout the
        country. The Office Depot National Backpack Program is
        designed to help provide children with some of the basic
        supplies they need when heading back to school.

        As part of its National Backpack Program in Mississippi,
        Office Depot will donate over 3,500 backpacks to local
        non-profit organizations, and schools that work with
        disadvantaged children in Mississippi and 2,000 will be
        placed in the hands of children in the greater Biloxi area.

        Backpacks will also be distributed to the Biloxi affiliates of
        national organizations including Feed The Children, the PTA
        and The National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL).
        Presentations to City, State and County officials will be made
        as well.

WHEN:   The Biloxi event will take place on Tuesday, August 8 at
        2:00 p.m.

WHO:    Specials Guests at the Event Include:

        --  State Representative Diane Peranich

        --  Mayor A.J. Holloway

        Representatives, board members and children from the following
        Biloxi and Gulfport-based organizations will be in
        attendance at the events and accept the backpacks
        containing school supplies from Office Depot executives:

        --  Judy Grimes, Nativity BVM School

        --  Clare Bass, Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School

        --  Dr. Spinks, Biloxi Public Schools

        --  Marcia Seagraves, Corporate Relations, Feed The Children

        --  Mary Hardy, Mississippi PTA President

        --  Henry Arledge, Superintendent of Education, Harrison
            County School District

        --  Mitchell King, Assistant Superintendent of Education,
            Harrison County School District

        --  Sarah Walker, Executive Director, Visions of Hope

        --  Bob Waltz, Education Coordinator, Visions of Hope

        --  Jessica Bennett, Community Services Coordinator, Visions
            of Hope

        --  Michelle Shows, Executive Director, Center for Prevention
            of Child Abuse

WHERE:  Office Depot Store Location:

        --  Office Depot -- Biloxi
            2412 Pass Road
            Ph: 228/388-0100
            Time: 2:00 p.m.

VISUALS: Backpack Donations to organizations and children.
         Photo Opportunity and media interviews with city officials,
         school administrators and representatives from Office
         Depot, benefiting organizations and children receiving
         backpacks and unloading of backpacks off 48-foot truck.

Members of the media, both print and broadcast 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 Lauren Garvey via email at [e-mail]