Patriot Packout

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PATRIOT PACKOUT

In Fall 2024, Mason Exhibitions and Facilities & Campus Operations revealed an original documentary produced by Steven Luu, a current MFA student of George Mason’s School of Art, about the community-based social sculpture "Patriot Packout”.

We are honored to tell the important story of community support and sustainability at Mason, and can’t wait to continue watching PPO evolve over time.

Patriot Packout (PPO) is George Mason's community-based donation initiative that diverts new and gently used items from trash and redistributes them to students, faculty, and staff for free!

Items you may find through PPO include clothing, shoes, books and tech, art-making and office/school supplies, non-perishable food and toiletries, small appliances and furniture, bikes, scooters, and skateboards, and MORE.

PPO is made possible by countless university partners and supporters, including (mostly volunteer) staff, faculty, students, and community members.

VOLUNTEER WITH PATRIOT PACKOUT

Sign up via the Sustainability Volunteer Portal - create a free account, browse volunteer opportunities, and sign up for as many as you would like!

PPO HISTORY

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.