MONTHLY SWAP AND HOP EVENTS
Swap and Hop tabling events are hosted by Patriot Packout (PPO) and the LGBTQ+ Resources Center at Mason Dining's monthly Farmers' Markets!
Donate like-new or gently used items, swap donations with items you need, or simply claim donations for FREE! Learn more about PPO and the LGBTQ+ Resources Center's Trans Clothing Closet Resource! All Mason Patriot students, faculty, staff, contracted employees, and alumni are invited to attend.
Swap and Hop Event Details
When: November 6, December 4 from 11AM - 3PM
Where: Southside Lobby
Registration: go.gmu.edu/pposwap
PATRIOT PACKOUT DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
Join us for food and fun activities at the first screening of an original documentary about Patriot Packout! This event is a collaboration between Mason Exhibitions, Facilities and Campus Operations, and Mason Dining. Registration is required to attend this event, so please be sure to RSVP at the link below!
PPO Documentary Screening Event Details
When: Tuesday, November 19 from 6PM - 8PM
Where: Ike's Multipurpose Room
Registration: go.gmu.edu/ppo-documentary
VOLUNTEER WITH PATRIOT PACKOUT
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 at the end of each spring semester.
Sign up via our Sustainability Volunteer Portal - create a free account, browse volunteer opportunities, and sign up for as many as you would like!
BECOME A PATRIOT PACKOUT VOLUNTEER!
Use the form below to share anonymous feedback on your experience with Patriot Packout 2024 and help improve PPO next year!
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 transpo@gmu.edu 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.
- Textbooks, Testing Supplies, and Art Supplies
- See 'Art Supply Sharing Closet' and 'First Gen+ Center' lists 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.
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.)
DONATION DROP OFF LOCATIONS (CHECK BACK FOR 2025 UPDATES)
RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- Check back for 2025 updates!
OUTDOOR DROP-OFF (Bike Donations Accepted):
- Check back for 2025 updates!
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 (check back for updates)
- SciTech Bike to Mason: Spring 2025
- Fairfax Bike to Mason: Spring 2025
- Mason Square Bike to Mason: Spring 2025
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 RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- Check back for 2025 updates!
FAIRFAX OUTDOOR DROP-OFF:
- Check back for 2025 updates!
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 (check back for updates)
- SciTech Bike to Mason: Spring 2025
- Fairfax Bike to Mason: Spring 2025
- Mason Square Bike to Mason: Spring 2025
RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY DROP-OFF:
- G.T. Halpin Family Living and Learning Community
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.