Big Sunday happily welcomes you to Our Really Big Community Calendar.
We try to include all kinds of volunteering and helping opportunities for all kinds of interests, talents, passions, and ages! As you’ll see, these include volunteering opportunities (one-time and long-term) as well as the chance to support a nonprofit by attending fundraising events. Plus, of course, we include all of Big Sunday’s homegrown events, too! Whoever you are, and whatever you do, there is someone out there who could use your help.
If you have questions about our calendar, or would like to add a listing, please contact calendar@bigsunday.org or submit your event/opportunity via the button below.
Olive Crest presents the “Shimmer and Share: Show That You Care” Dress Drive March 13 – April 7. The public is encouraged to donate a bridesmaid dress, cocktail dress or evening gown to Olive Crest to give every girl in their community a chance to go to her prom feeling like a princess. All dress donations will benefit at-risk teens and youth. Please drop off items Monday through Friday from 9 am – 5 pm at 17800 Woodruff Avenue, Bellflower, CA 90706. To coordinate drop-offs or for questions, please contact Tyler Rodriguez at 562-977-6964 or tyler-rodriguez@olivecrest.org.
Celebrate America’s largest annual Latin culinary celebration at ¡Latin Food Fest!’s 2017 action-packed line-up March 24-25, adjacent the Santa Monica Pier (1550 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, 90401), featuring tastings, a celeb chef dinner, parties, and workshops.
The signature event, Gran Tasting, is an all-inclusive tasting festival. Guests pay one price to enter and indulge in a variety of local and international Latin food, wine and spirits; meet acclaimed chefs who will conduct demos, and you won’t want to miss the Best of Fest Awards – the fest’s showcase of culinary excellence.
For more information, visit www.latinfoodfest.com.
Safe Place for Youth needs your voice in the community to advocate for SPY youth! Right now, LA is in the midst of a homelessness crisis, and SPY is working with partner agencies, public officials, funders and local businesses to ensure that housing and wrap-around services are available for their young people to exit the streets, but they can't do this without your help!
SPY is looking for volunteers to join their Advocacy Program to be the voice for SPY youth in the Westside community. If you are interested in joining this effort, please contact Michelle at michelled@safeplaceforyouth.org.
2017 Orientation Dates
March 25, 9am
May 20, 9am
July 22, 9am
September 23, 9am
November 18, 9am
Signup links for orientations are posted on this page three weeks prior to the orientation date.
Adult Volunteer
The Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter (VBAS) is a 100% volunteer-run organization looking for committed volunteers who are able to provide basic care for the animals and assist with adoptions as well as participate in and run their various programs.
Volunteer Requirements
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You must commit to volunteer 8 hours per month.
- You must commit to volunteering for a minimum of one year.
Orientation
- Orientation occurs every other month.
- Please allow 60-90 minutes for the orientation.
- During Orientation they will cover general Shelter duties, event committees, VBAS requirements, training, KFP, take a tour and Q&A.
- Orientation is on a first-come, first-served basis. The first 30 people to sign up will be able to attend Orientation. If you miss this, you will have to wait and attend the NEXT Orientation posted date.
- Sign up for the March 25th orientation session to sign up for the next orientation session starting March 4th.
Volunteer Application Process
- Applications are available at http://thevbas.org/volunteer for one week after each orientation.
- Upon receipt of your application you will be given a list of Volunteers with their schedules and observe them at the Shelter at least 2 times.
- You will then be move on and be interviewed by a VBAS member.
- You will then go through LiveScan and a minimal background check as required by the City of Burbank.
- Please note: completion of any or all of the above steps does not automatically constitute acceptance as a VBAS volunteer. Upon approval from both the VBAS and the Burbank Police Department, your badge will be available and you will be contacted to schedule your first training session.
- Please allow approximately 3-6 months to complete this application process.
Don’t miss the Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary’s 2017 “Weed Warriors” Saturday Volunteer Days! Weeds can alter habitats and have negative effects on wildlife. Volunteers help remove periwinkle, English ivy, and English plantain using non-chemical methods.
No experience necessary; training and tools provided. Please wear clothes that can get dirty, long pants, close-toed shoes and layers for changing weather. Bring snacks and a picnic lunch, if you wish. A personal water bottle, a hat and sunscreen are strongly recommended.
Adults and children ages 8 and older are welcome. Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults. It fulfills community service requirements
Please sign up via the link: https://goo.gl/forms/hOcNhQmHFzXUHdHm2
For more info, please email jrosales@audubo.org.
Schedule
January 21; February 11 & 25; March 11 & 25; April 8, 15, & 29 (1:30pm – 4:30pm); May 13 & 20
9am – 12:30 pm each date (*except April)
Beginning and Ending Time: In January, February, March and May the time is from 9 am – 12:30 pm. In April the time is from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm.
In honor of Cesar Chavez, join From Lot to Spot for a day of working in the Heart of Watts Community Garden. From Lot to Spot engages with disadvantaged communities in developing healthy public spaces in their neighborhoods.
Email arlene@fromlottospot.org and learn more details here.
Oil Painting: Capture the Beauty of Nature
Saturdays, (6 week sessions):
January 14 – February 18
February 25 – April 1
April 8 – May 13
May 20 – June 24
1:00pm – 3:30pm
Ron Pettie, Instructor
$69 Arboretum members / $79 non-members (includes Arboretum admission)
All materials are included.
Capture the beauty of nature! The instructor will guide a beginner to draw and paint with confidence. More advanced students will be able to paint independently at their own pace and will be able to choose their own subjects.
Each subsequent six-week class will explore other areas of painting such as landscape, still life, domestic animals, structures, deserts, and seascapes. Master artist Ron Pettie will guide you on this adventure.
At the end of a six-week session students will learn the following:
- Composition styles
- How to read a color chart
- Color mixing
- How to use the grid system and the rule of thirds
- Use of dark and light values and gray scales
- Learn a variety of techniques for painting , including using different brushes and the palette knife for texture and depth
- How to use the magic frame on photographs
- Self-Critiquing – Standing back and squinting
- Choosing a signature
Reservations REQUIRED; To register please call the Education Department at 626-821-4623.
On March 25, don’t miss Self Help Graphics and The Big Read’s Postermaking Workshop! The workshop will explore Emily Dickinson's affinity for flowers and gardens and how she used them throughout her writings. Participants will then create mono-silkscreened posters based on her works and new poems created by each participant. The workshop is free and all ages are welcomed.
NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Click HERE to secure your spot.
Be a Part of the Volunteer Usher Family!
More than 300 volunteer ushers assist South Coast Repertory by taking tickets, helping patrons to their seats, distributing programs and selling concession items and SCR merchandise. Volunteers see an entire season of theatre free-of-charge while mingling with theatregoers. The volunteer season concludes with a fun end-of-year usher celebration. For more info, please email usher@scr.org or call the Usher Hotline at 714-708-5068.
NOTE: This is an ONGOING volunteer opportunity. Please call for exact times and dates.
Enjoy meeting other people while helping others? Like to cook? If so, Project Angel Food needs you to help prepare healthy meals for the sick! The organization’s devoted volunteers of all ages represent the diversity of Los Angeles. They are at the heart of all Project Angel Food does, so they pride themselves on the strong sense of community amongst volunteers and staff alike.
Kitchen volunteers join a fun-loving group of compassionate people each day to do everything from chopping, stirring, mixing, baking and packaging meals. You don't even need to know how to cook … only how to take direction from their kitchen chefs. They could use your valuable help!
Two shifts are available: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 12:30 pm and 1:30 – 3:30 pm. A weekend shift on Sunday is also available from 8:00 am – 12:30 pm.
Please sign up HERE or contact Project Angel Food at volunteers@angelfood.org.
NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!
