Office Depot Foundation's ‘Caring Connection’ website matches volunteers with community service opportunities

Office Depot Foundation volunteers assemble packages of supplies, personal care items and other gifts to be sent to the Orphan Foundation of America at the Boca Raton YMCA. Photos courtesy of the Office Depot Foundation.

BOCA RATON — Recognizing the powerful role that volunteerism plays in keeping our communities strong, the Office Depot Foundation has launched the Caring Connection — an online resource that makes it simple to learn about and enroll in thousands of volunteer opportunities.

Presented in collaboration with VolunteerMatch, the Caring Connection website provides access to information about volunteer positions offered by more than 60,000 non-profit organizations across the United States.

The Caring Connection debuted on a recent Saturday in Boca Raton, when more than 100 Office Depot Foundation volunteers – ranging in age from 5 to 87 — came together to assemble packages of school supplies, personal care items and other gifts that are being sent to 2,400 Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) foster youth attending colleges and trade schools across the country.

“One of the key components of our ‘5 X 5 Program’ of strategic priorities is strengthening local communities,” explains Mary Wong, president of the Office Depot Foundation - the independent foundation serving as the primary charitable giving arm of Office Depot (NYSE: ODP).  “Volunteerism is one of the most effective and meaningful ways in which individuals of all ages can make a difference. 

“We are excited to make these opportunities available to residents of every community we serve, as well as to Office Depot associates and customers, students, companies and non-profit organizations,” Wong continues.  “We encourage everyone to visit our Caring Connection site to find ways to ‘Put Your Passion into Action.’”

The majority of the items included in the packages were donated by Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation. Additional contributors included Smead, FranklinCovey and Horses and the Handicapped.

The boxes also contained letters and cards to the students written by children from seven area schools and youth organizations, including Achievement Center/Village Academy, S.D. Spady Elementary School, Rolling Green Elementary School, Saint Andrew’s School, the YMCA, Hispanic Unity of Florida and the Jason Taylor Reading Room.  The YMCA of Boca Raton donated the use of its facilities for the event.

The Office Depot Foundation Caring Connection can be accessed anytime at www.officedepotfoundation.org or http://caringconnection.volunteermatch.org/.