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
18
Thu
Volunteer: LA Family Housing @ Please contact LA Family Housing for address details.
May 18 – May 19 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!

May
19
Fri
Volunteer: Meals on Wheels West LA @ Meals on Wheels West Los Angeles
May 19 @ 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!

May
20
Sat
Bolsa Chica Land Trust: Stewards Habitat Restoration Project @ Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve North Parking Lot
May 20 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

STEWARDS AND JR. STEWARDS HABITAT RESTORATION

The Bolsa Chica Land Trust Stewards and Jr. Stewards meet twice each month – the first Sunday and third Saturday – to restore native habitat at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.  Take part at 9 am (till noon). Meet at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve North Parking Lot (3842 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach, CA).

Come plant and water native plants, remove non-native plants, pick up trash and other maintenance tasks. Help the Bolsa Chica Land Trust heal our local environment! Please “dress for mess” with long pants and closed toe shoes (like sneakers) and plenty of sunscreen.  That’s it!  You’ll be taken care of from there with plenty of instructions, tools and equipment, information about the ecosystem, and water and snacks.  All are welcome, but please note, there is limited access for those with physical disabilities. For groups of 25 or more, please call ahead to 714-846-1001 or email Erin@bclandtrust.org extra equipment & snacks can be provided.  Volunteer slips are available for school credit.

Weed Warriors
May 20 @ 9:00 am – 12:30 pm

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.

Crescent Farm Series @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden (Meet at the Crescent Farm)
May 20 @ 10:00 am

Instructor: Crescent Farm Staff

Learn about water conservation and sustainable gardening, with hands-on experience! The Crescent Farm, located in the heart of the Arboretum just west of Baldwin Lake, is a reclaimed landscape where we explore new and ancient horticulture techniques for water conservation and food production. This is an educational training series.  Please bring gloves, drinking water; wear close-toed shoes and a hat.

May 20 – Weaving / Basketry

Learn to use your bio-mass (plant waste) to create garden structures.  Simple weaving techniques can use leaves as cordage, branches as trellises, tomato cages, shade shelters, and various long lasting leaves as weavers.  Design and build compost structures, plant guards and soil traps in your own Crescent Garden.

 June 17 – Crescent Farm Horticulture

Explore horticulture at Crescent Farm. Tour our choices for low water lawn alternatives, California native ethnobotanic plants of our local indigenous tribes, arid climate orchard trees and native wildflowers! Get ideas for your home landscape from our New California Landscape. Growing tips will also be discussed.LA County Arboretum logo

Oil Painting: Capture the Beauty of Nature @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
May 20 @ 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

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.

Project Angel Food: Bowling for Angels @ PINZ Bowling Alley
May 20 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The public is invited to SPARE some time and join Project Angel Food at Bowling for Angels, a fundraiser that combines good friends, crazy fun and a great cause to help put hunger where it belongs…in the gutter!  Register and help Project Angel Food raise some much needed funds … and then come to celebrate your success in continuing the organization’s mission.

  • Where: PINZ Bowling Alley in Studio City  http://pinzla.com/                                                 
  • Date: Saturday, May 20th                                                                               
  • Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Register

Whether you are a STRIKE KING or a GUTTER BALL GURU, you’re guaranteed to have a great time all while raising money for a great cause.

Remember, you can throw balls and strikes, but the only pitchers are on the table!

Sign up today: http://bit.ly/B4A2017  

May
21
Sun
Volunteer Usher: South Coast Repertory @ South Coast Repertory
May 21 – May 22 all-day

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 theat​regoers. 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.

Kitchen Volunteers: Project Angel Food @ Project Angel Food
May 21 @ 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

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.Project Angel Food

Please sign up HERE or contact Project Angel Food at volunteers@angelfood.org.

NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!

Imagine LA’s Celebration of Family @ Lake Side Golf Club
May 21 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Imagine LA’s 7th Annual Celebration of Family (COF) is returning to Lakeside Golf Club on Toluca Lake to celebrate hardworking formerly homeless families and mentors, staff, donor, sponsors and board members.  COF is a family fun filled carnival that will include live music and entertainment for all ages! The special event will include appearances by Colton Haynes of Teen Wolf and Arrow and The Satin Dollz.  Casual attire is suggested (no denim or flip flops, please).  Complimentary valet will be available on site.  To purchase tickets/sponsorships, please visit www.imagineLAorg/COF.

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.