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.
The good folks at Hollywood HEART — a nonprofit dedicated to developing character strengths, confidence, and resiliency in at-risk youth through purposeful engagement in the arts — are in need of a few great volunteers!
Volunteers will be helping 36 amazing high school kids in varied grade levels ranging from 9th to 12th grades during the 6th period ICAP class at Los Angeles High School. The class, which covers a wearable art unit combining 3D sculpture, fashion, jewelry and more, is for enrolled LA High students interested in art. Volunteers are needed to help support the classroom teacher and the Hollywood HEART teaching artist by checking in supplies, encouraging student work and participation, and helping the teachers as necessary. It will be a fun, creative, and potentially messy class, so casual attire is encouraged.
NOTE: If volunteering on Monday, LAHS has a shortened schedule — 6th period is 2:27 – 3:07 pm. Tuesday through Friday 6th period is 2:11 pm – 3:07 pm. All volunteers must contact Hollywood HEART Director of Programs Maggie Blake at maggie@hollywoodheart.org to confirm scheduling and receive background check instructions.
Attention Schools, Faith Based and Community Supporters! Don’t miss Young Women Empowerment’s 5th Annual Girl Talk V Spring Conference "Beauty in Motion" on March 18. Young women between the ages of 12-21 are invited to attend the free "Girl Talk" 2017 Spring Conference. The event will include guest speakers, workshops, giveaways, opportunity drawings, breakfast, lunch and entertainment. Free t-shirts will be provided to the first 50 girls registered and guests will enjoy a make-up demo, Zumba, and discussions on topics ranging from human trafficking, boundaries, self worth, entrepreneurship, suicide prevention and more! To pre-register for the event, individuals and groups can email ywefoundation@gmail.com. The event is presented by Gwen Rodgers, founder of the Young Women Empowerment Foundation. To register, please click HERE.
Garden School Foundation hosts monthly Community Garden Days. These days are a wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over the city and spend a morning outdoors helping create and maintain garden classrooms for students at underserved schools. You don't need any experience to join in, just a love of nature and a willingness to get dirty! In the garden, participants will build, plant, weed, water, mulch, and more. GSF will also host workshops, demos, and fun-filled arts and crafts activities for the whole family.
For more info, please contact Elizabeth Hall, Volunteer Coordinator, at elizabeth@gardenschoolfoundation.org.
PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE
This is a great opportunity for you and your family, friends or associates to get involved. All you need to do is show up…and bring a bucket if possible!
- General Admission: You can register up to 19 people under the General Admission ticket type.
- Group Leaders: You can register groups of 20-100 people under the Group Leader ticket type.
- All cleanup volunteers must have a signed waiver form.
- Bring cash if you plan to park in the lot (there is no discounted parking) or come early to find street metered parking.
- Volunteers 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers under 18 must have a waiver signed by parent or guardian.
- Service hour forms will be signed by the beach captain at the end of the cleanup. Heal the Bay cannot verify service hours after the event concludes.
- Please try to bring your own reusable garden gloves and bucket or reuse a washable tote bag from home. A small supply of reusable buckets and garden gloves will be available if you forget.
- Please be prepared to be outside for 2-3 hours. Beach weather can be unpredictably hot or cold, so please dress in layers. Also please bring a filled reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and bring a snack in case you get hungry. Water is available at all cleanups.
- If you have any questions or concerns please call 800 HEAL BAY x148 or send an email.
Note: NBS is a rain or shine event. Cleanups are only cancelled for lightning or thunderstorms. The cleanup will still be held in light and steady rain.
More Information
To register, please click HERE.
- $25 Arboretum members / $35 non-members (includes Arboretum admission)
- Reservations are preferred; Please call 626-821-4623 to register or pay at the door
- Laramee Haynes, Instructor
Propagating your own plants can be a rewarding and truly green hobby. Making cuttings, divisions and planting seeds can be surprisingly easy. Like very slow cooking, follow the recipe and Mother Nature will help you succeed. Knowledge makes all thumbs green! The results can be added to your garden or shared with family and friends.
This class will cover and demonstrate basic techniques that you can do at home. A handout is provided with a list of easy to propagate plants. All supplies will be provided.
Aside from being a wonderful landscape designer, Laramee was selected by the Pasadena Showcase House in past years to manage the wonderful glass greenhouse, provide information to visitors and conduct propagation classes.
For more info on Laramee, please visit www.Hayneslandscaping.com.
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.
Join the Los Angeles Arboretum’s on-going series “Garden Night Photography Group Session”! Night offers unique photographic opportunities in the garden so come and discover your own creative images! Share your night photography techniques with other photographers. Specific emphasis will be placed on the ‘Painting with Light’ technique, so bring your ‘big gun’ flashlights.
*PLEASE NOTE: Be sure you have a DSLR or camera that has manual control capabilities. AND, please bring camera’s paper manual or pdf on your phone.
Where:
Meet outside the Main Entrance – then visit the Arboretum gardens near the Entrance/Rotunda, Peacock Cafe, Bauer Lawn & Fountain areas, Cactus and Succulent Garden and Madagascar Exhibit area.
Who:
Frank McDonough, session leader, botanist and photographer
Fee:
Per Class – $30 Arboretum members/$40 non-members
LIMIT 12 Photographers – Please call the Class Registration line at 626-821-4623
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION:
HEADLAMPS: You need to bring your own headlamp. For safety reasons, if you do not have a flashlight, you will not be permitted to attend. You may purchase inexpensive headlamps at Harbor Freight and Home Depot.
TRIPOD
DSLR CAMERA capable of long exposure time.
LIGHTS: Battery powered high illumination lights/flashlights, laser pointers.
COMFORTABLE SHOES: you will walk and maybe get dirty!
About the Session Leader: Besides doling out plant advice here, Arboretum Botanical Information Consultant Frank McDonough photographs the Arboretum on a regular basis. His work can be seen on the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens Facebook page, the Arboretum tumblr site, and throughout the Arboretum’s web site (www.arboretum.org).
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 theatregoers. 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.
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.
Please sign up HERE or contact Project Angel Food at volunteers@angelfood.org.
NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!
Don’t miss The People of Change’s 2nd Annual Bowling Fundraiser Event on Sunday, March 19! Participation in this fun event helps fund the organization’s programs — HIP through Science, ICB groups, P.L.A.Y, and No More Tents — that greatly impact our community. Your donation includes two games and shoes. For more info, please call 716-986-6104. Click HERE to RSVP today!
The People of Change is a collection of likeminded individuals who desire to see change in their environment and the world. Their mission is to help those less served and to help improve the quality of life of each individual through advancement in education, income, cultural awareness and health.
Instagram: @thepplofchange


