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.
Come join the VA Greater Los Angeles Healt Care System Veteran Stand Down. This event is in its 5th year and non of it would be possible with supportive volunteers. Volunteers: Register at – www.bwscampus.com/standdown
The activitiies that will be taking place are as follows:
• Housing Assistance • Substance Abuse Counseling • Women’s Services • VA Benefits/Claims • VHA Healthcare Enrollment • Rapid HIV Testing, Dental, Vision, and other Medical Services • Showers • Family Assistance • Legal Assistance • Employment Services • DMV ID Cards • Community Resources • Pet Services • Hair Cuts/Grooming • Meals • Healthy Living Items • Health and Wellness
Volunteering at Project Angel Food is a great way for your group to make a direct impact in the community while sharing a sense of compassion for our most fragile neighbors.
If you are looking to foster team-building while being of service and giving back to our community, there are many opportunities to help, such as preparing meals in our kitchen, assisting with special events, or working in our Urban Gardens.
ONE DAY of your help will make a big difference!
We offer opportunities for groups of up to 10 people to participate. The kitchen is open Sunday through Friday. Weekday kitchen shifts are from 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Sunday kitchen shifts are from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm. Other projects can be scheduled through the Volunteer Services Department.
If you are searching for a rewarding experience and love working with and for animals, we invite you to join the OC Animal Care volunteer team. Volunteer opportunities are available seven days a week.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
§ Dog Walker –
Volunteers walk and exercise shelter dogs that are available for adoption. Through exercise, dog walkers provide adoptable dogs' human contact, mental stimulation and basic command training.
§ Cat Socializer –
Volunteers socialize available shelter cats. Through socializing, volunteers improve the quality of their lives and better prepare them for adoption into loving homes.
§ Greeter –
Volunteers greet and offer assistance to the public at OC Animal Care's front gate. Greeters are a visitor's first contact with the shelter and through their warm greeting and courtesy may influence a person's decision to adopt from OC Animal Care.
§ Mobile Adoption/Special Events –
Volunteers assist staff in educating citizens about the services provided by OC Animal Care at local fairs, festivals and mobile adoption events.
§ Clerical Support –
Volunteers assist customer services staff by preparing adoption packets that offer insightful information to ease the transition of an adopted pet into a new environment.
§ Bather/Groomer –
Volunteers bathe and groom shelter dogs to create quality bonding time between themselves and the dogs and increase a dog's adoptability.
§ Foster Caretaker –
Volunteers provide temporary care to young, injured, abused or under-socialized animals. Volunteers return their foster animals when they are deemed suitable for adoption by OC Animal Care clinic staff. The volunteer is responsible for all expenses incurred while fostering.
VOLUNTEER SELECTION
OC Animal Care requires that all potential volunteers go through an extensive selection process. This process ensures that OC Animal Care is selecting volunteers that best fit the needs of the program and understand the unique environment in which they will work. The selection process may take up to two months. Please note that applicants will be selected based on the current needs of OC Animal Care.
Time Commitment
OC Animal Care requests that you commit to a minimum of eight hours per month for three months. This commitment ensures that the program will operate smoothly and that the maximum benefit is derived for the animals.
Training
OC Animal Care staff provide training to all volunteers. Volunteers are required to complete the training for each position in which they are selected to serve.
Best Friends Animal Society’s Strut Your Mutt is a series of charity dog walks that bring entire communities together to raise money to help save the lives of homeless pets.
This is much more then a fundraising walk. Strut Your Mutt is a fun-filled festival where four-, three- and two-legged participants of all ages can take part in activities like doggie yoga, pet portraits, music, contests and more.
In 2018, at the many events across the country, as well as online, participants came together to show their support for the animals. Together, more than $2.3 million was raised.
Click here to register: https://support.bestfriends.org/site/TR/2019SYM/General?team_id=8607&pg=team&fr_id=1447
We are always happy to have people interested in volunteering!
We have a short orientation every Saturday morning at 8:45am in Shadow Hills. (Rain will normally cancel and we are closed for major 3-day holiday weekends.)
Volunteers must be at least 12 to volunteer. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must accompany you to sign some paperwork. Closed-toe shoes (should be comfortable because there is a lot of walking), a shirt with sleeves (T-shirts are fine; No tank tops) and long pants are required. If planning to stay for the entire day (till approx. 2 – 2:30pm) then bringing water and a sack lunch/snack is recommended. Other days and times available for volunteering will be given at the orientation.
We normally have volunteers assist the instructor with the children and horses, which includes, leading horses and spotting, which is walking alongside the horse to ensure child’s safety and position changes on the horse. Other activities might include: grooming horses, cleaning tack, gardening (raking, weeding, etc.), mailings, etc.
HOW YOU CAN VOLUNTEER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CONNECTION
Each year, our volunteers contribute 5000+ hours, accounting for almost 80% of our services. If you're interested in promoting peace in the lives of foster youth, join our community and bring your knowledge and compassion to those who will truly benefit. It's a truly rewarding experience!
Primarily our volunteers connect with youth on Saturdays from 9am – 1pm in an environment that focuses on creativity, education, life skills building, health and wellness. Under the guidance of our staff, volunteers are given the tools to work one-to-one with youth, developing strong bonds that leave a lasting impression.
HERE'S A QUICK REQUIREMENT CHECKLIST:
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- Be at least 18 years of age
- Contribute at least 8 hours a month [2 Saturdays per month] and commit to a minimum of one year of service
- Obtain Department of Justice clearance
- Attend both a new volunteer orientation and training
And here's some of the things you'll be doing:
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- Engage, mentor and provide leadership for youth in foster care, ages 4-18 years old
- Support our educational team in facilitating creative learning onsite and on field trips
- Create a consistent, nurturing community based environment
- Have fun making new friends with like-minded folks!
Throughout the month of October, the City of Long Beach Department of Development Services is celebrating National Community Planning Month, a time to recognize planners’ work to improve the livability of communities.
This year’s theme, “Planning for Infrastructure that Benefits All,” highlights how well-planned infrastructure projects such as roadways, housing, and parks strengthen communities, boost the economy, expand opportunity, and promote equitable development in our City.
All are invited to celebrate #LBPlanningMonth by joining us at one of our upcoming free events:
Planning 101 Workshop (en español)
Martes 8 de octubre de 2019 | Tuesday, October 8, 2019
9:00 a.m. – Noon
Long Beach Rescue Mission
1430 Pacific Ave.
Careers in Urban Planning
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library
5870 Atlantic Ave.
Park-to-Park: Walk/Bike Tour
Saturday, October 19, 2019
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Hudson Park
2335 Webster Ave.
*Meet at W. Hill St.
LBDS Outdoors: Community Resource Fair
Saturday, October 26, 2019
10:00 a.m. – Noon
Whaley Park
5620 E. Atherton St.
At each free event, community members will learn about the Planning process and how to be involved, access career advice and opportunities, explore and celebrate the urban fabric of Long Beach, and connect with community resources through various City departments. Light refreshments and giveaways will be provided.
To RSVP and learn more about each event, please visit: www.longbeach.gov/lbplanningmonth.
Please also join the National Community Planning Month conversation on Facebook and Twitter using #LBPlanningMonth
Second Chances Leadership Program was designed to build and develop the self-confidence, life and leadership skills of youth through interactive learning, in-class discussions, presentations, panels, workshops, and exploratory field-trips. Upon conclusion, participants will be able to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of a leader’s core essentials through a service learning project, weekly homework and journaling assignments, discussions, presentations, and a culmination project.
Our youth will become ‘Ambassadors’ allowing them to become well versed in the theoretical and practical application of a leader’s core essentials and be capable of utilizing them within their home, school, and community. This allows them to personally develop through leadership programs and have access to tools and resources that not only helps such youth to apply to college, but also prepares them to succeed in life.
The Leadership Program consists of 5 modules that are 8 weeks in length. The modules expands our youth knowledge base by providing significant exposure to real-life work experiences, hands-on activities that challenge their decision making process, and intense cross-cultural volunteer projects both locally and abroad.
Vroman's favorite storytime guy, Mr. Steve, shares books with little ones every Wednesday and Saturday morning in the kids' section of the store.
Ages 2 – 7
The 10th annual Festival for all Skid Row Artists
Saturday and Sunday, October 26 & 27, 2019
1-5pm each day in Gladys park (corner of 6th Street and Gladys Avenue)
Sign Up as a Skid Row artist – write info@lapovertydept.org / call 213-413 1077
Say What! TENth Annual –can you believe it! How Time Flies! How a community vitally sustains itself! You better believe it!
Los Angeles Poverty Department celebrates and preserves the rich artistic heritage of Skid Row and beginning with the first Festival in 2009 has generated a registry of Skid Row artists, which now numbers more than 800.
The Festival for All Skid Row Artists is a two-day festival of performing and visual art with plenty of music, showcasing the diverse range of talents among Skid Row residents. The festival has become one of the most anticipated grassroots cultural events in Skid Row where over 100 Skid Row Artists perform or display their artwork to enthusiastic audiences. Many come back each year and prepare their acts and works of art, and thanks to extensive street outreach, many people will get on-stage for the very first time and get in the mix of the vibrant Skid Row artistic culture.
LAPD partners with Studio 526 and United Coalition East Prevention Project (UCEPP) to produce the Festival. This year, the Goethe-Institut is an additional producing partner. The Goethe-Institut is organizing the event series “Worlds of Homelessness”, including discussions, music and film screenings, that begins Tuesday October 22, at LA Poverty Department’s Skid Row History Museum & Archive (with additional sites at Sci-Arc and Navel). The project brings together local and international artists, architects, scholars and others and culminates with the 2 days of the Festival.
“Worlds of Homelessness” will open with music by the LA Playmakers and the Playmakers will close out the Festival on Sunday Afternoon. The LA Playmakers are a local band founded by Joseph Warren and Stan Watson 5yrs ago. These accomplished professional musicians have played with a number of well known jazz and pop music figures. They can play anything, R&B, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Gospel– and they do. The band members have one thing in common: they all were members of the Praise and Worship Team at Skid Row’s Central City Church of the Nazarene.
Festival attendees are invited to participate in a range of artist facilitated workshops and creativity stations. The LA City Department of City Planning will be there to gather community input on their emerging plan for downtown DTLA2040 and Skid Row Now & 2040, will also be getting festival-goer input on their community generated plan for a Skid Row future without displacement and with housing for area residents now on the streets. LAPD’s Festival for All Skid Row Artists gives audiences a chance to hear what you usually don’t hear about Skid Row: that it is a community rich with talent!
