Service Projects
The UL Day of Service is a chance to make a positive impact in our community—together. With a variety of volunteer projects available, there’s something for everyone! Take a moment to browse the different opportunities and sign up for the one that speaks to you. Registration for the UL Day of Service will open in mid June.
2025 UL Day of Service: Summer Projects
In partnership with Prince William Libraries and The Crayon Initiative, we are collecting both new and used crayons. Crayons will be remanufactured into new, free crayons for kids in children's hospitals to help color their world. Crayons can be dropped off during the UL Day of Service at the Creativity Corner in Patriot's Lounge anytime between 9:00am-12:00pm. If you are unable to make the UL Day of Service, please drop off at of our drop off boxes in one of the following locations:
The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement
The Hub, Room 2400
Box will be available: June 20th - July 22nd
University Life
SUB I, Room 4211
Box will be available: June 20th - July 22nd
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 10
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Volunteers will make blankets for animals using fleece. Blankets will be donated to the Prince William County Animal Shelter
- Location: Student Union Building (Patriot's Lounge)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 10
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Volunteers will make chew toys for animals using fleece. Chew toys will be donated to the Prince William County Animal Shelter
- Location: Student Union Building (Patriot's Lounge)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 10
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Volunteer Description: Volunteers will decorate flower pots that will be given to University Sustainability. These flower pots are often given away during their farmer's markets and are perfect for growing small seedlings.
- Location: Student Union Building (Patriot's Lounge)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 10
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Volunteers will help submit Pats for Patriots to thank, recognize, show appreciation for a Mason colleague or student who has taken the time to do something kind, generous or thoughtful towards others.
- Location: Student Union Building (Patriot's Lounge)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 10
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Decorate rocks with inspiriting messages of hope, encouragement, or fun designs to share with others. Decorated rocks can be placed in various locations around campus to inspire others. Volunteers are also encouraged to take the rocks with them to place around campus or give to someone.
- Location: Student Union Building (Patriot's Lounge)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 10
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: We are collecting gently used cardboard (ex: Amazon boxes, store boxes, etc.) to shred and donate to Mason’s very own University Sustainability Office. We can also accept paper (ex: printer paper, notebook paper, newspaper, etc.). If you would like to donate these items, please deliver to UL Central anytime between 10:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Thursday. Donations can also be brought to the Creativity Corner (SUB I, Patriot's Lounge) on the Day of Service at 9:00am. On the UL Day of Service, volunteers will work together to help breakdown and shred cardboard/paper so that it can be used for composting.
- Location: Student Union Building (Patriot's Lounge)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 20
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Volunteers will participate in outdoor work, moving mulch or clipping weeds, trail clearing, etc. Please be sure to wear close-toed athletic shoes, and bring water and sunscreen
- Location: 9100 Freedom Center blvd. Manassas
- Number of volunteer spaces available: 5
- Volunteer needs: Join us at the Fairfax Library for a hands-on project to help refresh and brighten up this community space! Volunteers will assist with light cleaning tasks including washing Lego sets, dusting bookshelves, wiping down acrylic program holders, deep cleaning whiteboards, and scrubbing the backs of chairs. Your efforts will help create a cleaner, more welcoming environment for library visitors of all ages.
- Time frame: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Location: Fairfax Library (10360 North Street, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 6
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Volunteers will work to assemble 3 shade shacks. Must be comfortable using a drill.
- Location: 10445 Manley Rd, Nokesville, VA 20181
Join University Life in giving back to our community by supporting Little Free Libraries in Northern Virginia. We’re collecting new or gently used books of all genres and reading levels to help stock these free, accessible community libraries.
- What to donate: Books for all ages and interests – from children’s picture books to adult fiction, nonfiction, and everything in between.
- Where to donate: Books can be dropped off during the UL Day of Service at the Creativity Corner in Patriot's Lounge anytime between 9:00am-12:00pm. If you are unable to make the UL Day of Service, please drop off at of our drop off boxes in one of the following locations:
- The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement
The Hub, Room 2400
Box will be available: June 20th - July 22nd - University Life
SUB I, Room 4211
Box will be available: June 20th - July 22nd
- The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement
While we appreciate all forms of generosity, there are frequently requested items that are most popular with student users. Below you will find a list of frequently requested food and personal hygiene items. Please bring all donations to the Patriot Pantry located in SUB I, Room 3011 and leave all donations in the box outside of the Pantry marked “donations”.
You can also order popular food items through the Patriot Pantry’s online Amazon Wish List. These items will be delivered directly to the Student Support and Advocacy Center on the Fairfax Campus.
To contribute monetarily to the Patriot Pantry, please donate to the Student Food and Housing Insecurity Fund.
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 15
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Join Sven and Lynn to grow food in our organic veggie garden! Help prepare garden beds, add plants and seeds, remove weeds and turn the compost. We provide the gloves, tools, training, and bug spray. Please wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. We recommend a reusable water bottle, long sleeves, a hat and sunscreen.
- Location: Potomac Heights Garden, 10350 York River Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032 (The garden is hidden behind the Potomac Heights residence hall, near the back of the Aquatic Fitness Center, You will need to approach the Potomac Heights building, and then go around the corner to the back of the building before you see the garden.)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 15
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Join Robert and Doni to help tidy our Food Forest! Learn to identify edible and invasive plants, help to remove weeds and turn the compost. We provide the gloves, tools, training, and bug spray. Please wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. We recommend a reusable water bottle, long sleeves, a hat and sunscreen.
- Location: Innovation Food Forest, 4699 Mattaponi River Ln (near the south/lower-level entrance of the Johnson Center, next to Innovation Hall. Volunteers can walk in and find staff near the center of the site.)
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 10
- Project Time: 10:30am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Spend an hour planting with residents of the Sunrise Senior Living Center - Braddock Glen. You will join the activities coordinator, Spiddy, in sprucing up the center’s courtyard and spending time with the residents who like to garden. Don’t have time to go over to Sunrise Braddock Glen, or just want to add more to your volunteering? You can donate a plant! Drop it off at UL Central (SUB1 4211) the day before, by 10am the morning of, or bring it with you to Braddock Glen. Purchase one of these types of plants or donate from your own garden:
- Alumroot
- Hosta
- Columbine
- New England Aster
- Goldenrod
- Location: Braddock Glen, 4027 Olley Ln, Fairfax, VA 22032
- Number of Volunteer Spaces Available: 5
- Project Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
- Project Description: Volunteers will assist in steaming, sanitizing, and organizing clothing. Volunteers may also be working alongside Center staff to do a small amount of cleaning and organizing the Center space to maximize access to the Trans Clothing Closet Resource.
- Location: Student Union Building I, Room 2200