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.

Big Sunday Event Giving Opportunity! One-time Volunteer Opportunity Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity
May
8
Mon
Be a Mentor: Youth Policy Institute @ Please contact Leah for more details.
May 8 all-day

Need an internship? Want to strengthen your resumé? Are you working or retired and want to share your knowledge and wisdom with someone? Youth Policy Institute is looking for volunteers to commit to a 6-month mentoring program to engage and make a difference in the lives of youth. Participants will mentor at-risk youth between the ages of 16-24.  Please note: there is a training requirement for all participants.

Types of Mentors

  • College and Career
  • Group mentoring
  • One-on-one

Rewards

  • Experience
  • Trainings
  • Field Trips/Outings
  • Personal fullfilment

To apply, please visit http://bit.ly/mentorinterestform.

For more info, please contact Mentor Coordinator Leah Hirst at ysedvolunteers@ypiusa.org or 323-978-1027.

May
9
Tue
Volunteer: Venice Community Housing @ Please contact VCH for address details.
May 9 – May 10 all-day

Venice Community Housing logoVenice Community Housing has a variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from regular on-going projects to one-time experiences. For more info on VCH’s current volunteer opportunities, please visit http://www.vchcorp.org/volunteer/.

For all opportunities, volunteers must be over 18 and complete a background check, unless offering an approved one-time service. Tutors are required to hold a B.A (A.A will be considered). Regular availability and experience with mentoring low-income youth preferred.

To get involved with VCH, please complete a Volunteer Application and contact Paola Fontana at pfontana@vchcorp.org.

Please note: These activities are ONGOING.

May
10
Wed
Friendly Visiting Volunteer: SeniorServ @ Central, North and West Orange County, CA
May 10 – May 11 all-day

SeniorServ provides services to over 1,000 frail, isolated, homebound older adults daily who are in need of companionship. Many homebound elders are lonely and do not or cannot reach out to others.

If you find joy in making a difference and enjoy listening or talking, friendly visiting is the right volunteer opportunity for you. Volunteers visit in the home of the older adult and offer warmth, friendship and understanding to make life more meaningful.

Volunteers play an important part in the elders' well-being by helping to restore feelings of self worth, dignity and promoting independence. Volunteers are needed throughout Central, North and West Orange County. Families are encouraged to volunteer.

Requirements

Volunteers will need a California Driver's License and proof of automobile insurance, or have a legal guardian who can provide the above mentioned items.

Before being matched with a senior, the volunteer completes a background check, necessary paperwork, and meets with the Volunteer Manager for an interview and brief training.

For more information, please contact Linda Molthen, Volunteer Coordinator, at lmolthen@seniorserv.org or 714-229-3377.  Visit http://www.communityseniorserv.com/get-involved/friendly-visitor.html for more details.

NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly event.
 

Volunteer: Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission @ Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission
May 10 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission logoCurrently, the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission provides emergency services consisting of hot meals, food items to go, clean clothes, new undergarments and socks, hygiene kits, blankets and referrals at 6425 Tyrone Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401 weekly (Monday through Friday from 12 – 1pm).  Mail and veterinary services and a computer lab are all available for clients' use 9:00 am – 1:00 pm; lunch is served at 12:15 pm.  The Mission has provided nearly 207,000 hot meals, 230 referrals to shelters and 61,000 nights of shelter, 49,000 showers, 20,000 articles of clothing and 6,500 hygiene packets within 24 months of operation.  Volunteer today to help serve a hot meal to someone in need!  For more info, please contact Laurie Craft at 818-804-5507, ext. 1002 or laurie@hopeofthevalley.org.

NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!

Smoking Cessation Workshop @ Barlow Respiratory Hospital - Williams Hall
May 10 @ 5:00 pm

Barlow Respiratory Hospital partners with the American Lung Association to present a free, eight-session smoking cessation workshop Freedom from Smoking on the historic Barlow campus next to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

FREE “Freedom From Smoking” workshop – dates for this session are:

Dates:                   Wed., May 10, 17, 24, 31 / Fri., June 2 / Wed., June 7, 14, 21

Time:                    5 pm

Cost:                      Free

Contact:               American Lung Association, 310-735-9180

Register online or request information by contacting the American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking facilitator.

Email to:  quitsmokingnow17@gmail.com

May
11
Thu
Volunteer: LA Family Housing @ Please contact LA Family Housing for address details.
May 11 – May 12 all-day

LA Family HousingThere are countless ways to volunteer and make an impact in someone's life at LA Family Housing (LAFH). Below are just a few examples!

Dining Hall: Interested in an opportunity that includes more interaction with clients? Work alongside LAFH’s fabulous kitchen staff to prepare a meal and visit with individual residents in Bridge Housing as they dine. Volunteer individually or groups up to 20 can be accommodated.

Donation Sorting: Are you a natural organizer? Do you like hands-on work? LAFH receives a wide array of in-kind donations such as household items, personal care products, and clothing. Help their staff in organizing and sorting these donations. This is a great team-building opportunity for groups!

Welcome Desk: Are you friendly and helpful? Assist LAFH’s busy staff in fielding resident questions at Bridge Housing for individuals. Individual opportunity. Training and regular commitment required.

Office Support: Are your closets meticulously organized? LAFH wants your help to sort, file, label, and perform other fun organizing tasks that involve reams of paper and electronic data.

Share your Talent: Do you have a talent or skill that you would like to share with LAFH residents? They would love to learn it! Recent activities include filmmaking and journalism workshops, singing lessons, sewing and cooking instruction, sports club and dance classes.

To schedule a tour or learn more about any LAFH volunteer opportunities, contact the Volunteer Services Coordinator at volunteer@lafh.org or 818-255-2775.

NOTE: There are ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunities!

Tai Chi @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
May 11 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Instructor: Master Arnold Chien
 
Tai Chi is a martial art based on the theory of an ancient classic called “I Ching”.  Kinetic Tai Chi is created by Master Chien based on this foundation coupling with contemporary Physics of potential & kinetic energy. The training sessions include striking, throwing & submission techniques. There are 10 levels of form to advance. Combining this advanced physical routine with Tai Chi’s rich thinking, students will benefit lifelong health, achieve mental superiority and enjoy high level combat skills.
 
Thursdays      
9:00am-10:30am
 
Winter 1st:    1/26, 2/02, 2/09, 2/16
Winter 2nd:   2/23, 3/02, 3/09, 3/16
 
Spring 1st:   4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/04
Spring 2nd:  5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/01
 
Cost for Classes:

  • $35 per month – members
  • $45 per month – non–members
  • $15 Drop In – per day
  • 10% discount if you sign up for 2 sessions

Pre-registration preferred; To register please call the Education Department at 626-821-4623.

Grandmaster Arnold Chien is the founder of Kinetic Tai Chi, 2012 & 2014 Kungfu master at USC Pacific Asia Museum & 2008 Chinese idol in martial art category. In 2013, he became the first instructor to teach Tai Chi at the legendary Gold’s Gym Arcadia, CA. Chien’s heavy focus on the principle of softness to conquer hardness has helped students to achieve not only the physical limitations, but their mental ones as well, thereby reach the ultimate level of “soft as silk and hard as steel”.

Big Sunday’s TM@10 @ Big Sunday
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Join us for TM@10 at Big Sunday headquarters where we’ll host a different service project each week that benefits a worthy cause! Enjoy good food, good company and good deeds; everyone is welcome. Some of the groups we’re helping include My Friend’s Place, Covenant House, and lots of shelters, hospitals, and senior facilities around all over town. For more info or to sign up, contact rob@bigsunday.org.  Click HERE for TM@10’s full schedule.TM@10 - 3

Sewing Quilts for Veterans @ SewVac Ltd
May 11 @ 1:00 pm – May 11 @ 5:00 pm

SoCal Quilts of Valor cuts and sew quilts to present to military Veterans to thank them for their service, welcome them home, and help them in their healing. They also trim quilts when they come back from quilters and attach the binding and label, then they get hand stitched and washed in preparation for being awarded. The group meets every Thursday, except holidays. Come for as long as you can!  For more info, please contact Barbara Winkler.

May
12
Fri
Volunteer: Meals on Wheels West LA @ Meals on Wheels West Los Angeles
May 12 @ 10:15 am – 12:30 pm

MOWWLABecome a volunteer for Meals on Wheels West (MOW) Los Angeles and help deliver meals between 10:15 am and 12:30 pm any Monday – Friday! Student volunteers are always welcome at MOW. Younger students can help with various tasks in MOW’s office or be paired with one of their regular drivers or with a parent to help deliver food to clients. High school and college students who already are licensed drivers are especially appreciated as reinforcements to MOW’s regular corps of volunteers. MOW is happy to record your community service hours and send that information to your school.

NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!

How it Works

You can SEARCH by scrolling through the Months or by selecting different Categories or Tag functions. For a totally different view, try the Posterboard or Stream options! Feel free to submit an item for the calendar by clicking the “Submit Your Event / Opportunity” button above at the right-hand side of the page. Questions? Email calendar@bigsunday.org.