America's Second Harvest to Receive $100,000 Donation From Office Depot to Help Feed the Hungry This Holiday Season

Contact:
Susan Hofer, America's Second Harvest, 312/263-2303 x127
Lauren Garvey, Office Depot, 561/438-2895

America's Second Harvest Donors Rise to Meet the Matching Gift Challenge Offered by Office Depot

Chicago, IL and Delray Beach, FL -- November 14, 2002 -- According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture today, 33 million Americans - 13 million children and 20 million adults - live in families that suffer from hunger or live on the edge of hunger.

Recognizing that so many people suffer from hunger and in an effort to make a difference, Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), the world's largest seller of office products and supplies, will present America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, with a $100,000 donation at a special ceremony. The donation will enable America's Second Harvest to distribute 3 million pounds of food this holiday season.

On October 4th, Office Depot challenged America's Second Harvest donors to match the $100,000 gift in just six weeks. The response was overwhelming, with thousands of donors rising to the challenge and contributing an additional $200,000 to fight hunger in our country by the November 18th deadline.

The donation ceremony will take place on November 18th at the Caring Kitchen, an agency that benefits from America's Second Harvest national network of food banks and food-rescue programs in Delray Beach, Florida. At the ceremony, Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest will be presented with a $100,000 donation from Office Depot's Bruce Nelson, Chairman and CEO.

Through its network of food banks and food-rescue programs, America's Second Harvest's efforts reach more than 23 million hungry people in communities across the country. Of those assisted, more than 9 million were children and over 2 million were senior citizens. Last year the organization distributed 1.4 billion pounds of donated food to more than 50,000 community and faith-based charities.

"Through the generosity of Office Depot and the thousands of people who rose to the matching grant challenge, the hungry across America will have a better holiday season and the gift of food and hope for themselves and their families," said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest.

Bruce Nelson, Chairman and CEO for Office Depot, stated, "As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to help make a difference in the lives of so many people in the U.S. who suffer from hunger. Office Depot is pleased to support America's Second Harvest, a wonderful organization that helps so many people, in so many ways, each and every day. We are delighted with the results of the corporate matching challenge, and the additional funds will be dedicated to feeding children during the summer months when school lunch programs are not currently available."

In addition to the $100,000 donation, all of Office Depot's U.S. retail stores will support and raise additional funds for America's Second Harvest through its in-store "Hunger Has a Face" campaign. Campaign highlights include employee pins and informational brochures on America's Second Harvest and ways to help in your local community in the fight against hunger are available in all U.S. Office Depot retail stores. Also, the company is encouraging its more than 45,000 employees around the world to get involved by volunteering at local soup kitchens and shelters this holiday season.

Office Depot customers can help too. In-store flyers encourage customers to donate $1, $5, or $10 to America's Second Harvest at check out, and donating customers receive a "Hunger Has a Face" sticker to wear. The in-store campaign runs through November 29th, and Office Depot has already raised an additional $10,000 through customer donations at the register.