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
Apr
15
Sat
Bolsa Chica Land Trust: Stewards Habitat Restoration Project @ Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve North Parking Lot
Apr 15 @ 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.

Great LA River CleanUp @ Varied LA locations
Apr 15 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Great Los Angeles River CleanUp is the nation’s largest urban river CleanUp drawing over 9,000 of volunteers to fifteen sites over three weekends in April.

This Earth Month do your part – go to http://folar.org/cleanup – and sign up for Friends of the Los Angeles River’s Great LA River CleanUp!!

The group Friends of the Los Angeles River needs your help to activate the entire LA River community for the 2017 Great LA River CleanUp. There’s 51 miles of River and even with the largest urban river clean up in America, there’s always too much trash left in the River. Your help is needed to make a greater impact and cleaner River.

Upper River / April 15 / 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Bette Davis Picnic Area | Sepulveda Basin @ Balboa Blvd
Tujunga Wash @ Haines Canyon Channel

Mid River / April 22 / 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Arroyo Seco Confluence | Bowtie Parcel @ Fletcher Drive | The Frog Spot | Los Feliz Blvd
Marsh Street Nature Park | Steelhead Park | Sunnynook Footbridge

Lower River / April 29 / 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Compton Creek @ Artesia Metro Station | Compton Creek @ Del Amo Metro Station
Golden Shore Marine Reserve | Willow Street Estuary

How to sign up
Registration for individual volunteers is available at folar.org/cleanup.

Group registration
Group registration is open to any group of ten or more volunteers and is available at folar.org/cleanup/groups.

Questions?
Contact FOLAR at 323-223-0585 or email contact@folar.org.

Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup @ Santa Monica Beach (Near Lifeguard Tower 1550)
Apr 15 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE

Heal the Bay’s Nothin' But Sand Beach Cleanup 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.
  • Overflow Admission: When Heal the Bay’s general admission sells out, you can still register, however you will be responsible for bringing your own cleanup supplies: a bucket or trash bag, and a garden glove or latex gloves. Please bring your own water to this event to prevent dehydration.
  • 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. Service Hours cannot be verified after the event concludes.
  • Help Heal the Bay make Nothin’ But Sand a zero-waste event! Bags, garden gloves, water, and healthy KIND Snacks (while supplies last) will be provided, but you’re encouraged to bring your own cleanup supplies and a reusable water bottle to reduce the environmental footprint.
  • Please be prepared to be outside for 2-3 hours. Beach weather can be unpredictably hot or cold, dressing in layers is recommended. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a filled reusable water bottle to stay hydrated, and to bring a snack in case of hunger. 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

Have questions about Nothin' But Sand Beach Cleanup?
Contact Heal the Bay

Oil Painting: Capture the Beauty of Nature @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Apr 15 @ 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.

Weed Warriors
Apr 15 @ 1:30 pm – 4:30 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.

Apr
16
Sun
Volunteer Usher: South Coast Repertory @ South Coast Repertory
Apr 16 – Apr 17 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
Apr 16 @ 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!

Apr
17
Mon
Be a Mentor: Youth Policy Institute @ Please contact Leah for more details.
Apr 17 all-day

Need an internship? Want to strengthen your resumé? Are you working or retired and want to share your knowledge and wisdom with someone? Youth Policy Institute is looking for volunteers to commit to a 6-month mentoring program to engage and make a difference in the lives of youth. Participants will mentor at-risk youth between the ages of 16-24.  Please note: there is a training requirement for all participants.

Types of Mentors

  • College and Career
  • Group mentoring
  • One-on-one

Rewards

  • Experience
  • Trainings
  • Field Trips/Outings
  • Personal fullfilment

To apply, please visit http://bit.ly/mentorinterestform.

For more info, please contact Mentor Coordinator Leah Hirst at ysedvolunteers@ypiusa.org or 323-978-1027.

Big Sunday’s MM@10 @ Big Sunday
Apr 17 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Each Monday morning at 10 am, we host a fun, hands-on service project at Big Sunday headquarters called MM@10 (Monday Mornings at 10).  It’s a great way for folks of all ages to get together to help others.  Join us for all the fun!img_4821  To RSVP for upcoming MM@10 events, please contact beenish@bigsunday.org. Click HERE for MM@10’s full schedule.

Volunteer: Meals on Wheels West LA @ Meals on Wheels West Los Angeles
Apr 17 @ 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!

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.