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
Sep
24
Sat
WAM Block Party: Emerson Avenue Community Garden @ Emerson Avenue Community Garden
Sep 24 @ 10:00 am – Sep 24 @ 8:00 pm

Final_WAMpostcardThe Emerson Avenue Community Garden Club is hosting the first annual Westchester Arts & Music (aka WAM!) Block Party, a free, day-long celebration filled with live music/dance, art, food and community. They’re closing down the street and opening up the garden for arts and crafts activities for all ages and a diverse mix of performances, vendors and food trucks, including Kogi BBQ! Come celebrate Westchester’s 75th Anniversary!  To register, please visit http://wamblockparty.org/#wam.

 

Jan
14
Sat
Reading to Kids: January 14th Reading Clubs @ 8 Elementary Schools in Downtown LA
Jan 14 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

r2k-logo-purple250READING TO KIDS: January 14th Reading Clubs

Reading to Kids organizes monthly reading clubs on the second Saturday of every month at eight downtown Los Angeles elementary schools. The reading clubs run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Pairs of volunteer readers read aloud to small groups of students from the elementary school (typically between 4 and 6 children per group) in a fun environment. Teachers at the elementary school provide supervision and guidance throughout the morning.

To volunteer at our next reading clubs, please visit http://www.readingtokids.org where you'll need to register and RSVP. For more information, please feel free to e-mail info@readingtokids.org or call 310-479-7455.

The next reading clubs, "Mysteries & Adventure" will be held on January 14, 2017, from 9 am to 12 pm. For exact locations, please visit http://www.readingtokids.org.

Volunteers must be 18 or older to volunteer with Reading to Kids.

Feb
26
Sun
Volunteer: The Jewish Federation of Greater LA @ Varied locations (see website)
Feb 26 – Feb 27 all-day

On Sunday, February 26, you can make a difference in the Jewish community in five meaningful ways and at locations throughout Los Angeles when you volunteer as part of Federation's Community Service Day. Choose from these ways to give back — and feel great about making time to make a difference:

  • Day of Good Deeds — At Aegis of Granada Hills, you can paint canvases with the senior residents at this family-friendly event. No art skills required — just the desire to brighten a senior's day.
  • Beit T’Shuvah — Join the residents of Beit T’Shuvah in feeding the homeless. In the morning, you can make sandwiches and burritos for the homeless with Beit T’Shuvah residents. In the afternoon, you can help distribute.
  • Ronald McDonald House — Join the members of YALA, ages 25-40, to make meals for resident families so they can relax and spend time with their hospitalized children.
  • Aviva Family and Children’s Services — Participate in arts and crafts with, and get to know at-risk teenage girls staying at the Aviva Center. (Volunteers must be 18 or older.)
  • Jewish Community Inclusion Festival for JDAIM — Celebrate Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month by helping those with special needs and their families enjoy a day of fun. (Volunteers must be 13 or older.)

For more info and to register, please click HERE.Jewish Federation of LA logo

Apr
22
Sat
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC
Apr 22 @ 10:00 am – Apr 22 @ 6:00 pm

15_FOB_stk_taglineThe Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

Apr
23
Sun
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC
Apr 23 @ 10:00 am – Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm

15_FOB_stk_taglineThe Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

Apr
29
Sat
YALLWEST
Apr 29 – Apr 30 all-day

YALLWEST is a Young Adult Literary Festival held in Santa Monica. This year they are bringing in over 125 authors for a weekend of panels, signings, and fun. They also bring in over 800 students from Title 1 schools with their program Books, Buses, and Burgers. This allows students free transportation to the festival, lunch, and a free book of their choosing.

Volunteer hours are between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm and they run in 4-hour blocks.

Tasks:

  • Panel Monitoring
  • Ticket taking
  • Author Signings
  • School Escorts

Time Requirement: shifts are 4 hours long, there is a 1-hr training session held the week before the festival

Perks: free parking, a t-shirt, a free ticket to a Festival Ticketed event of your choosing

Sign up: https://www.yallwest.com/get-involved/#volunteers

Questions: email Volunteer Coordinator, Gretchen Schreiber, at gretchen@yallwest.com

School Beautification: Mayall Academy of Arts and Technology @ Mayall Academy of Arts and Technology
Apr 29 @ 8:30 am – 11:30 am

On Saturday, April 29, Mayall Academy of Arts and Technology needs a few hardworking volunteers to pitch in on various tasks (i.e. painting, clean-up and gardening) and the school’s beautification day. Mayall Academy of Arts and Technology is a Technology Magnet and low-income school located in North Hills with a large population of deaf and hard-of-hearing students and second language learners.  To lend a hand, please contact Principal Linda Kim at lkim5@lausd.net.

Oct
13
Sun
Captain Ron’s “The Galley Restaurant” Sponsors 11th Annual Home Run for Kids Softball Game @ Palisades Charter High School Baseball Field
Oct 13 @ 10:00 am

Join us for 7 innings of slow-pitch softball at the 11th Annual Home Run for Kids Softball Game! 

Benefitting children with hearing loss.

Teams: Captain Ron's "The Galley Restaurant" vs. Kehillat Israel Temple

Warm-ups begin at 10:00 am
Star-Spangled Banner at 10:55am
Game begins promptly at 11:00 am

Complimentary lunch at the Galley to follow. Significant others and families are welcome to join! Please RSVP for lunch by October 9th to captainschur@gmail.com.

Your donation of $175 will allow you to play softball or sponsor a "Galley Girl" to play in your place. Games are adults only. To sign up, contact Captain Ron Schur at 310.701.5096.

Make checks payable to: NO LIMITS

Please put in memo "Captain Ron Softball"

Mail to: The Galley, Attn: Captain Ron/Softball

2442 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405

 

We look forward to seeing you on the field! Thank you for being an MVP for our deaf children and families!

 

Grand Slam for a deaf child: $5,000

This Grand Slam will sponsor a deaf child for one year of services at No Limits, providing individual therapy, parent education, literacy, and so much more!

PURCHASE

 

Home Run for Parent Education: $2,500

Your home run hits is out of the park to provide bi-weekly literacy instruction, helping deaf children learn to read and write.

PURCHASE

 

Base Hit for Parent Education: $1,000

With your base hit contribution, you'll provide weekly parent education to our families!

PURCHASE

 

No Limits Fan: $500

Become a die-hard No Limits fan, giving deaf children and their families vital services they need to succeed.

PURCHASE

 

Play Ball for No Limits: $175

Take your spot in the line up for 7 innings of slow-pitch softball! Your support includes complimentary lunch at the Galley following the game.

PURCHASE

Oct
27
Sun
Dorris Place Elementary Library @ Dorris Place Elementary Library
Oct 27 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Dorris Place Elementary desperately needs books for its school and classroom libraries. Please join us for a day of book processing and mural painting. If you plan to paint, please dress appropriately. Our paint doesn't wash out. Food is provided to volunteers without dietary restrictions. Please be prepared to stay until 2 p.m. though we often finish earlier

 

No groups! Individual and family sign-ups only

 

Please consider donating $10 per volunteer to help offset costs for the day.

Mar
21
Sat
The Hollywood Hike to End Homelessness @ Griffith Park, Boy Scout Trail
Mar 21 @ 8:00 am

Now that you’ve participated in the 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, take the next step in helping address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles County by joining the 3rd Annual Hollywood Hike to End Homelessness.
 
60,000 of our neighbors fall asleep unsheltered, alone, and isolated every single night in Los Angeles County. For many of our neighbors, challenges are layered. Mental and physical challenges, a fundamental lack of resources, and the social stigma of homelessness create an environment of indescribable loneliness, trauma, and pain many of us cannot begin to comprehend.
 
For the better part of a decade, The Center has provided a holistic and trauma-informed approach to ending isolation and homelessness. Offering unique Wellness, Health, Outreach & Housing, and Community Support Programs, they work every day to break down barriers to entry for our homeless neighbors. By doing so, we help build a path toward wellness and housing.
 
On March 21st, they will host the 3rd Annual Hike to End Homelessness to raise vital funds for The Center’s Community Wellness Program that serves thousands of vulnerable individuals living unhoused on the streets in our neighborhood. With these resources, together, they will give their participants access to community programming and connections to healthcare, mental healthcare, and housing.
 
This unique event is anything but the typical fundraising experience. Bringing together hundreds of Angelenos hiking in solidarity, this hike is a powerful display of our commitment toward ending homelessness in our community.

For more information on registration or sponsorship, please  email Nathan Box, Director of Development & External Relations, at nathan.box@thecenterinhollywood.org.

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.