Patriot Packout (PPO) is Mason’s annual end-of-the year donation initiative. PPO provides on-campus donation resources for all students, faculty, and staff affected by move-out. PPO diverts usable items from trash and redistributes them to Mason students, faculty/staff, and community members who can benefit from them. All Mason Patriots can donate to PPO 2024 from April 15 - May 10.
VOLUNTEER FOR PATRIOT PACKOUT
VOLUNTEER WITH PPO 2024 FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A SUSTAINABLE SWAG BAG
PPO is made possible with the support of volunteers and Mason partners! All PPO volunteers are entered into a weekly raffle for a chance to win a sustainable swag bag prize!
The Patriot Packout Volunteer Raffle was organized in partnership with Mason undergraduate student Eliana Miller's "Engage, Connect, Optimize (E.C.O.) Project", created as part of her Honoring Our Community Fellowship with the Honors College. The E.C.O. Project expands PPO as a sustainable solution to waste reduction and resource redistribution at Mason in collaboration with PPO Planning Committee members and Housing and Residence Life.
All swag bag prizes are comprised of giveaway items generously donated by Mason partner offices, including Mason's Financial Aid Services, Student Health Services, Student Involvement, Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, Mason Dining, the Women and Genders Studies Program, and the Honors College, among others!
One PPO volunteer shift = one entry into that week's raffle. A PPO Volunteer Raffle winner will be announced each week from Friday, 4/26 - Friday, 6/28. Raffle winners will be contacted at the email address used to register to volunteer with Patriot Packout.
Become a PPO volunteer and make this year's move-out even more sustainable:
- Sign up via our Sustainability Volunteer Portal - create a free account, browse volunteer opportunities, and sign up for as many as you would like!
- Review Fairfax Campus volunteer shifts: Patriot Packout Volunteer Schedule (Fairfax)
- Review SciTech Campus volunteer shifts: Patriot Packout Volunteer Calendar (SciTech)
DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS (APRIL 15 - MAY 10)
Review donation locations listed below and visit Patriot Packout's 2024 Donation Map to find a drop-off location near you.
RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- Northern Neck
- Commonwealth
- Dominion
- Hampton Roads
- Eastern Shore
- Tidewater
- Piedmont
- Blue Ridge
- Sandbridge
- Taylor Hall
OUTDOOR DROP-OFF (Bike Donations Accepted):
- Hanover Hall (patio)
- Rogers and Whitetop (courtyard)
- Liberty Square (courtyard)
- Harrison Hall, President Park (pathway)
- Truman/Kennedy (courtyard)
- Potomac Heights (breezeway)
- The Globe (parking deck behind building)
PATRIOT PANTRY FOOD DRIVE: April 15– May 15 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday - Friday)
- Hosted by Parking and Transportation, visit their PPO Donation Drive webpage here!
- Parking Services Offices at Fairfax, Mason Square (Arlington), and SciTech Campuses
BIKE DONATIONS: April 23 –April 25 at Bike to Mason
- SciTech Bike to Mason: April 23rd from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Colgan Hall (Front Patio)
- Fairfax Bike to Mason: April 24th from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Merten Lawn
- Mason Square Bike to Mason: April 25th from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Van Metre Plaza
OUTDOOR DROP-OFF:
- Beacon Hall (parking lot)
If you are commuting or traveling to the Fairfax Campus, we encourage folks to utilize Fairfax donation drop-off points as well.
FAIRFAX RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- Northern Neck
- Commonwealth
- Dominion
- Hampton Roads
- Eastern Shore
- Tidewater
- Piedmont
- Blue Ridge
- Sandbridge
- Taylor Hall
FAIRFAX OUTDOOR DROP-OFF:
- Hanover Hall (patio)
- Rogers and Whitetop (courtyard)
- Liberty Square (courtyard)
- Harrison Hall, President Park (pathway)
- Truman/Kennedy (courtyard)
- Potomac Heights (breezeway)
- The Globe (parking deck behind building)
PATRIOT PANTRY FOOD DRIVE: April 15– May 15 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday - Friday)
- Hosted by Parking and Transportation, visit their PPO Donation Drive webpage here!
- Parking Services Offices at Fairfax, Mason Square (Arlington), and SciTech Campuses
BIKE DONATIONS: April 23 –April 25 at Bike to Mason
- SciTech Bike to Mason: April 23rd from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Colgan Hall (Front Patio)
- Fairfax Bike to Mason: April 24th from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Merten Lawn
- Mason Square Bike to Mason: April 25th from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Van Metre Plaza
RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- G.T. Halpin Family Living and Learning Community
ACCEPTED DONATIONS
Gently Used, Like-New, or New Items
“If you wouldn’t give it to a friend, don’t give it to PPO.”
Bikes, Scooters, and Skateboards
- If you can’t bring your bike to a PPO donation drop-off point, email transpo@gmu.edu a photo of your bike and its bike rack location.
- Bike donations can also be brought to Mason Parking and Transportation's Bike to Mason events (April 23 - April 25)
Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories
- All items must be clean and bagged separately.
- NO used undergarments, socks, or unwashed clothing.
Unopened, Unexpired Non-Perishable Food and Toiletry Supplies
- Food and toiletry supplies must be unused/unopened and not expired or close to expiration.
Textbooks, Testing Supplies, and Art Supplies
- See 'Art Supply Sharing Closet' list included below.
Small Appliances and Electronics
- Fragile items must be boxed separately. Bring e-waste to drop-off locations.
Small Furniture and Equipment
- Mirrors must be unbroken, and all furniture must be assembled.
Your donations benefit Mason’s Patriot Packout partners: Parking and Transportation, Trans Clothing Closet, Patriot Pantry, Art Supplies Sharing Closet, the MIX, and the First Gen+ Center.
Select donations that Patriot Packout partners need to support Mason Patriots are included below.
All transportation-related donations benefit Mason Parking and Transportation's bike and scooter programs (e.g., Fall Bike Sale).
- Bicycles
- Scooters
- Skateboards/Longboards
All items must be clean and in like-new or gently used condition.
-
Chest binders of all sizes
-
Sports-bras of all sizes
-
Skirts of all sizes
-
XL+ sized clothing of all styles/items
NO expired/near expired items will be accepted.
All toiletry and food supplies must be unopened/unused.
* Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and other dietary restriction options are particularly encouraged!
- Pasta and Sauce
- Rice (instant or regular)
- Canned Tuna, Chicken, Salmon
- Mac N Cheese
- Hormel Compleats
- Mixed Vegetables
- Soups
- Cereal and Other Breakfast Items
- Instant Oatmeal
- Healthy Snacks (crackers, nuts, granola bars)
- Peanut Butter/Jelly
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Deodorant
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Body Wash/Bar Soap
- Period Products
- Shaving Cream
- Lotion
- Hand Soap
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Laundry Detergent
* Please box all small/fragile supplies before donating.
- Magazines/Scrap Paper
- Printer Paper
- Writing Utensils
- Journals/Notebooks
- Paperclips
- Binders
- Yarn and Needlework
- Fabric and sewing materials (not actual clothing, but raw materials)
- Jewelry and beading
- Sheets of Vinyl
- Epoxy Resin molds and Equipment (no resin, related materials only)
- Seasonal Decor
- Gift Wrapping & Other Storage
- Dried or Fake Floral
- Other supplies that can be repurposed for art
All testing supplies should be unopened/unused.
* Please box all small/fragile supplies before donating.
- Textbooks
- Scantrons
- Bluebooks
- Notebooks
- No. 2 Pencils
* Please box all small/fragile supplies before donating.
- Tools (drill bits, screwdrivers, etc.)
- Robotics tools or components
- PCB boards
- Digital cameras/old cameras, lenses, and other A/V equipment (to support Media Lab)
- High-quality raw materials (ex. construction materials like wood, metal sheeting, etc.)
Specialty Waste Disposal Guidance:
For detailed information, see PPO's Move Out Waste Disposal Guide.
Patriot Packout Zero Waste Pilots (Available starting April 15):
PPO Drop-Off Locations:
- Liberty Square (breezeway facing Ike's)
- Potomac Heights (breezeway)
- Commonwealth (covered entrance)
Drop-Off:
- Household cleaning supplies waste
- Household aerosol cans
All cleaning supplies and aerosol cans waste MUST be lidded and sealed!
ONLY dispose of cleaning supplies and aerosol cans waste in separate, labeled drop-off bins.
PPO Drop-Off Locations:
- Potomac Heights (breezeway)
- Whitetop (side entrance near 30-yd. move out trash container)
- Harrison Hall, Presidents Park (beside 30-yd. move-out trash container)
- Commonwealth (beside 30-yd. move-out trash container)
Drop-Off:
- BROKEN electronics
- BROKEN small appliances
All e-waste items MUST be empty/clean (NO food waste)!
Please bag/box fragile e-waste items.
Please place BROKEN mini-fridges beside drop-off boxes at select pilot locations.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
PPO began in 2003, when Mason Facilities staff members collected clothing items and transported them to the Salvation Army to divert them away from move-out trash bins. It became a formal initiative in 2010, through a partnership between University Sustainability, Housing and Residence Life, Parking and Transportation, and Facilities Management.
Since 2010, PPO has diverted 123,208 pounds of reusable goods, electronics/appliances, non-perishable food supplies, and toiletries through not-for-profit donations!
Past donation partners included on-campus resources like Mason’s Patriot Pantry, the Trans Clothing Closet, and the Art Supply Sharing Closet. However, most PPO donations were typically distributed off-campus through partnerships with non-profit organizations like Food for Others, Goodwill, the Salvation Army, AmVets, and the Clock Tower Thrift Shop.
In 2023, University Sustainability launched the Patriot Packout Planning Committee to expand PPO’s impact on campus, with the goal of prioritizing the free redistribution of donated goods to the Mason community and those in need.
PPO Benefits:
- Reduces the waste disposal of usable items and transfers them to folks in need.
- Donates food and toiletry supplies to students through the Patriot Pantry and other Mason resources.
- Provides a safe donation and disposal alternative for hazardous and universal waste items.
- Reduces improper dumping of broken appliances and furniture and pollution, protecting Housing and Residence Life and Facilities staff members.
- Decreases waste hauling and disposal costs while reducing staff time spent on waste removal and monitoring.
- Streamlines the move-out process by providing students and families with a resource to donate items.
- Provides service-learning and civic engagement opportunities for all participants.