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
Mar
18
Sat
Heal the Bay: Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup @ Will Rogers State Beach - Tower 7
Mar 18 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

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.

Plant Propagation @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Mar 18 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • $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 @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Mar 18 @ 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.

Garden Night Photography @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Mar 18 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

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 pagethe Arboretum tumblr site, and throughout the Arboretum’s web site  (www.arboretum.org).

Mar
19
Sun
Volunteer Usher: South Coast Repertory @ South Coast Repertory
Mar 19 – Mar 20 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
Mar 19 @ 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!

The People of Change: 2nd Annual Bowling Fundraiser Event
Mar 19 @ 2:30 pm – Mar 19 @ 5:00 pm

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

Mar
20
Mon
Be a Mentor: Youth Policy Institute @ Please contact Leah for more details.
Mar 20 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
Mar 20 @ 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
Mar 20 @ 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.