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.
YALLWEST is a local literary festival focused on Young Adult novels. This year they're bringing in over 125 authors for a weekend of discussions, books, and fun! In addition to bringing in authors, YALLWEST busses in over 800 students from Title 1 schools who get to attend the festival and get a book for free!
They're looking for volunteers to help with:
- staffing panel rooms
- helping to set up/tear down
- be guides for incoming school groups
- helping with author signings
Time Commitment: each shift is 4 hours.
Perks: free parking, a t-shirt, and a ticket to one paid event.
To sign up visit: http://www.yallwest.com/volunteers or email our Volunteer Coordinator Gretchen Schreiber at gretchen@yallwest.com.
On May 3rd of 2014, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission shelter and warehouse in North Hollywood were destroyed by a fire. Now, almost two years later, with the help of their generous community, the warehouse rebuild is nearing completion and they are getting ready for a grand opening. They are actively engaging the community in helping to fill the new warehouse with donated clothing and household items.
On Saturday, April 30th, SFVRM is holding a “Fill The New Warehouse” event at 13422 Saticoy Street, North Hollywood. The items will then be sold in SFVRM’s thrift stores which support its shelter and outreach services to neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.
Here’s what you can do to help:
- Host a corporate or personal clothing drive
- Bring items to the new warehouse on Saturday, April 30th from 9am – 6pm
The Great Los Angeles River CleanUp is the nation’s largest urban river CleanUp drawing thousands of volunteers to fifteen sites over three weekends in April. Do your part this Earth Month by visiting http://folar.org/cleanup; sign up today!
Don't miss the Children's Bureau Annual Book Fair where thousands of gently used books are distributed to low-income children! It's a celebration of literacy and children's books. The books need to be sorted and organized into a "book store," then the kids need help selecting their books to take home. For more info, please contact Hope Wintner.
For years, Big Sunday Weekend—an incredible three-day festival of helping each May—has been our signature (and largest) event. In 2015, thousands of volunteers turned out—some as individuals, others with their families, still others as part of a class, church, synagogue, mosque, business or club—to lend a hand at hundreds of different projects from San Diego to San Francisco, making Big Sunday Weekend one of the largest regional community service events in America. In 2016, Big Sunday Weekend is expanding to A Month of Big Sundays. After 17 years, we’ve simply grown too big to contain everything in one weekend.
In May 2016, Big Sunday is hosting and/or sponsoring special events every single day of the month. Now we can take on even bigger projects, reach more people, make new alliances, and more easily fit in with everyone’s (and every organization’s) busy schedules. We’ll still have all kinds of events for every kind of passion and every type of talent. If you are at a school, faith group or business making your 2016 calendar now, please set aside any day during May 2016 and know that we’ll find a project that’s both impactful and fun for you to do. If you want to host a project, please select any day during May. Of course, we’ll still be bringing people together from all walks of life in the name of making the world a better place. For many people, A Month of Big Sundays (formerly Big Sunday Weekend) is just the beginning of an involvement that continues throughout the year. In the mea
ntime, if you have any questions or suggestions, please visit http://mobs.bigsunday.org/.
Thank you for your interest in the 2016 Verdugo Mountains 10K Trail Run and Hike. No experience required-share your skills and learn new ones! As a volunteer you will meet new friends, have fun and know you have contributed to your community!
All volunteers must complete the volunteer form and waiver. Volunteers under 18 years of age must have a parental/guardian consent (minimum age requirement is 16 years old). Volunteer shifts will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. They include: Registration Crew, Water Stations Crew, Finish Line Crew, Expo Crew, Pancake Breakfast Crew, Clean Up Crew, etc. All volunteers may be asked to stay in their assigned areas to assist with cleanup which may include taking down canopies, tables, chairs, etc.
Volunteers will receive a volunteer t-shirt, race information badge, and enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast. For more info, please contact Patty Betancourt.
Take part in the Children's Bureau's Annual Book Fair and celebration of literacy where thousands of gently used books are distributed to low-income children. Volunteers are needed to sort and organize the books into a "book store" and then to help the kids select their books to take home. To help, please contact Hope Wintner.
Once a month, volunteers and community partners come together at the Garden School Foundation’s 24th Street School Garden to have some fun in the sun, enjoy delicious, garden-fresh snacks, and get vital work done that keeps their living classrooms beautiful for the kids they serve. They also have a cooking or gardening workshop during each workday, where volunteers can learn & get inspired about food, from seed to table.
To volunteer, please contact Shelby Crowell at shelby@gardenschoolfoundation.
The Paseo Island Festival (or as they call it – PIF) is Paseo Del Rey Elementary's biggest event and fundraiser of the year, and is basically a fair with an Island theme. There's food, games, entertainment (music and dancers), and a silent auction. The event takes place from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Setup begins in the morning at 8:00 am and clean up until about 6:00 pm.
For the most part, volunteers are asked to assist with collecting tickets and staffing the game booths, jump houses, and food booths. In the morning volunteers will help set up tables, and if they are around at the end of the event, once the event's closed down, volunteers can assist with breakdown and cleanup. Volunteers will be provided vouchers or tickets for a meal; please dress comfortably and bring sunscreen.
It's a fun day overall with a lot of activity!
To help, please contact Heather Hart-Smith.



