Patriot Packout (PPO)

All transportation-related donations benefit Mason Parking and Transportation's bike and scooter programs (e.g., Fall Bike Sale). 

• Bicycles 
• Scooters 
• Skateboards/Longboards 

BIKE TO MASON EVENTS (APRIL)

• Fairfax Campus: 7AM - 3PM on April 21 at Merten Lawn
• Mason Square: 3PM - 7PM on April 23 at The Plaza
• transportation.gmu.edu/bike-to-mason/

The Trans Clothing Closet is not accepting new donations right now! Please follow the Trans Clothing Closet Resource's new Instagram account for the most up-to-date information (or email them at [email protected]): GMU TCCR (@transclothingclosetresource)

NO expired/near expired items will be accepted. 
NO opened/used items will be accepted.

* Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and other dietary restriction options are particularly encouraged! Visit the Patriot Pantry's webpage for more information.

Non-Perishable Food Supplies (bold = current needs):

• Healthy Snacks (individually wrapped)   
• 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 
• Peanut Butter/Jelly 

Personal Hygiene Supplies (bold = current needs): 

• Paper Towels
• Tissues
• Toilet Paper  
• Body/Baby Wipes
• Travel Size Deodorant
• Cleaning Products (all types - unopened/new)
• Laundry Pods
• Dishwasher Pods
• Diapers
• Shampoo/Conditioner  
• Body Wash
• Period Products   
• Shaving Cream/Razors
• Lotion 
• Bar Soap
• Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
• Floss  

* 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.) 

Join the Patriot Packout Planning Committee – submit your interest form today!

Resources:

• Parking and Transportation’s PPO Donation Drive (April 21 -May 14)
• Bike to Mason Website (April 22 - April 24, 2025)
• Zero Waste Mason

Early donation initiatives 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.

In 2007, the Office of Community Relations (now the Office of Community and Local Government Relations), began and officially named Patriot Packout (PPO) as a program to give students who were moving out of their residence halls an outlet to donate their unwanted clothes, appliances and unopened food items to local charities. Tasked with creating community engagement opportunities for the university, the Community Relations team researched programs at other universities and adapted the various move-out programs they found to fit George Mason University and the needs of the community. The Office of Community Relations collaborated with George Mason’s Facilities Management and University Sustainability teams gaining support and partners in PPO.

In 2010, the program won the Green Carpet Award from the Virginia Recycling Association in the category of Outstanding New Age Recycling Performance.  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. 

The PPO initiative was officially moved over to be led by University Sustainability in 2014.  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.