FALL INTO SUSTAINABILITY FAIR
WHEN: Thursday, October 30, from 12PM - 4PM
WHERE: Johnson Center South Plaza (outdoors)
This event is open to all George Mason students, staff, faculty, alumni, contracted employees, etc. This event is not open to the general public.
- Patriot Packout Mini Free Store
- Thrift FREE items available to all George Mason Patriots, including Halloween costumes, fall decor, household items, etc.
- Donations are also accepted, but not required to participate
- Greenhouse and Gardens Program
- Receive FREE houseplants, produce from Presidents Park Hydroponic Greenhouse, and fall recipe cards
- Participate in Sustainability Scavenger Hunt and learn about volunteer opportunities
- Patriot Green Fund Program
- Learn about the PGF's sustainability research and infrastructure projects
- Chat about your own creative sustainability project ideas, funding opportunities, and participate in interactive activities
PPO CAMPUS DONATION PARTNERS
All transportation-related donations benefit Mason Parking and Transportation's bike and scooter programs (e.g., Fall Bike Sale).
- Bicycles
- Scooters
- Skateboards/Longboards
- Fairfax Campus: 7AM - 3PM on April 22 at Merten Plaza Front Lawn
- Mason Square: 3pm - 7pm on April 24 at The Plaza
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.
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.)
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
- Bring to PPO outdoor donation drop-off or to Mason Parking and Transportation's Bike to Mason events. If you can't, please email [email protected] a photo of your bike and its bike rack location.
- 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 (within 2 months).
- Textbooks, Testing Supplies, and Art Supplies
- See 'Art Supply Sharing Closet' and 'First Gen+ Center' lists above.
- 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.
Select donations that Patriot Packout partners need to support Mason Patriots are included above.
PPO 2025 DONATION LOCATIONS (Check Back for 2026 Updates!)
INDOOR DROP-OFF:
- Northern Neck
- Commonwealth
- Dominion
- Hampton Roads
- Eastern Shore
- Tidewater
- Piedmont
- Blue Ridge
- Sandbridge
- Hanover Hall (Multipurpose Room)
- Taylor Hall
- The Globe
OUTDOOR DROP-OFF (Bike Donations Accepted):
- Potomac Heights (Breezeway)
- Liberty Square (Courtyard)
- Presidents Park, Harrison (Sidewalk)
- Presidents Park, Adams (Courtyard)
- Rogers and Whitetop (Courtyard)
- The Globe (Parking Deck)
PATRIOT PANTRY FOOD DRIVE:
- 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: at Bike to Mason
- Fairfax Campus: 7am - 3pm on April 22 at Merten Plaza Front Lawn
- Mason Square: 3pm - 7pm on April 24 at The Plaza
RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- Beacon Hall
If you are commuting or traveling to the Fairfax Campus, we encourage folks to utilize Fairfax donation drop-off points as well.
FAIRFAX INDOOR DROP-OFF:
- Northern Neck
- Commonwealth
- Dominion
- Hampton Roads
- Eastern Shore
- Tidewater
- Piedmont
- Blue Ridge
- Sandbridge
- Hanover Hall (Multipurpose Room)
- Taylor Hall
- The Globe
FAIRFAX OUTDOOR DROP-OFF:
- Potomac Heights (Breezeway)
- Liberty Square (Courtyard)
- Presidents Park, Harrison (Sidewalk)
- Presidents Park, Adams (Courtyard)
- Rogers and Whitetop (Courtyard)
- The Globe (Parking Deck)
PATRIOT PANTRY FOOD DRIVE:
- 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: Bike to Mason
- Fairfax Campus: 7am - 3pm on April 22 at Merten Plaza Front Lawn
- Mason Square: 3pm - 7pm on April 24 at The Plaza
RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- G.T. Halpin Family Living and Learning Community
PPO 2025 VOLUNTEERING
Volunteer to collect, organize, and support the Free Store event!
BECOME A FREE STORE VOLUNTEER!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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.