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.
Venice 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.
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.
During the month of May, Big Sunday is hosting a massive food drive —10K in May — in an effort to collect 10,000 units of food for the hungry! Feel free to donate unexpired, nonperishable food items at Big Sunday during our office hours M – F, 9 am – 5 pm.
On May 31 from 10 am – 5 pm, join us for our "A Month of Big Sundays" day-long open house, which will feature our biggest End of the Month Club ever. Help sort, pack and distribute all the food donated during the month and any other final donations. Feel free to help jump-start our beach towel collection for June. Volunteers can look forward to great food, good music, fantastic company and lots of ideas on how you can be involved in upcoming months! Food will be sorted in the morning and our nonprofit friends will pick up their items in the afternoon. Sign up for the May 31 End of the Month Club project here.
Currently, 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!
There 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!
Don’t miss the upcoming Social Impact Breakfasts in Los Angeles. Each breakfast features a set of speakers (Impact-Makers) and an opportunity to connect with others working to make an impact.
The next Social Impact Breakfast is on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Pacific Oaks College (55 W Eureka St, Pasadena, CA 91103) in Pasadena. Two dynamic breakfast speakers who are working to make an impact in LA will share their stories and insights into making that impact:
- David Eads, CEO, Tournament of Roses
- Brian Davis, Executive Director, Girls and Boys Club of Pasadena
About Social Impact Breakfasts:
Everyday in LA, thousands of people are working to make the city a better place, improving the lives of fellow Angelenos. The City Impact Lab in Los Angeles brings together those working to make an impact — in government, in the arts, in neighborhoods, in non-profits, and in business — to share breakfast and jumpstart their effectiveness with tactics for success from impact-makers across the city.
Format
The 75 minute breakfast is formatted to provide attendees with the opportunity to 1) connect to others who can support their work, 2) learn tactics from expert "Impact Makers," and 3) find ways to more effectively create a social impact in LA. Each breakfast includes at least 2 speakers providing their specific strategies to make an impact in LA. Space is limited to 35 attendees from a cross sector of government, non-profit, business, and arts professionals.
Cost
The Social Impact Breakfast is only $15. Space is limited, so register early.
Access Passholders receive free admission.
Register HERE
The good folks at Normandie Ave. Elementary invite people with interesting careers to present to their students about how they chose their work, what training and/or education they needed to obtain the career, what benefits their career has had for them, and what their life interests and hobbies are.
For more info or to participate, please contact Myra Thompson at mjt9922@lausd.net, 323-365-1222 or 323-290-0885.
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”.
Join us for TM@10 (Thursday Mornings at 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.
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.
