NORWAY – Office Depot donated 200 backpacks to the Child Health Center of Norway to provide children throughout Oxford, Androscoggin and Franklin counties with the tools to succeed in school.

The backpacks, filled with pencils, pens, paper, pencil cases and other school items donated by Office Depot and supplemented by Wal-Mart, were awarded to the Child Health Center as part of Office Depot’s “National Backpack Program.”

The program provides backpacks for the country’s low income children and more than 300,000 packs and supplies were donated nationwide this year.

Each of the Child Health Center’s Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor coordinators offered the opportunity for the schools with which they work to receive a number of packs for their most needy children.

“This was the first year the Child Health Center took part in Office Depot’s National Backpack Program and the feedback has been wonderful,” said Community Relations Coordinator Patricia Valeriani. “Over 30 schools and 25 Big Brother Big Sister matches received these packs, which will help children work at an equal level with their peers.”

The Child Health Center is a nonprofit organization striving to improve the lives of children and their families throughout Oxford, Androscoggin, southern Franklin and northern Cumberland counties. The main office is in Norway with branch offices in Auburn and Dixfield. For more information, call 743-7035 or 782-5437.