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.
Join Family Rescue Center for their weekly Saturday distribution of organic food donated from the Calabasas Farmer's Market. They need happy, helpful volunteers to sort the fruits and vegetables and to hand them out at their center. Four to six volunteers per Saturday is preferable; teens and older, please.
To volunteer, please email your name, phone number, and preferred contact method (phone, text, email) to Julie Domingo at jewelsd2005@yahoo.com. Please state how often you can volunteer — once a month or whatever works for you!
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is accelerating cures by providing patient support services, advocacy for lifesaving treatments and the most promising cancer research anywhere. And it's all happening now.
Friends, families and co-workers form fundraising teams and millions of consumers help by donating at retail outlets. At the center of every great Light The Night Team is the captain. Becoming a team captain will be a meaningful experience and give you the opportunity to lead your family, friends or co-workers in making a difference for people whose lives are touched by blood cancers. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening walks in nearly 200 communities across North America each fall.
Back on My Feet is thrilled to participate in the JetBlue Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon for the 3rd year in a row! Join the Back on My Feet FundRacing team in the Full Marathon or Half Marathon and make your miles count for someone in need.
When you FundRace for Back on My Feet, they provide you with a race entry and other perks, and in return you commit to raising a set amount of money that will directly support their mission to combat homelessness through the power of running, community support and essential employment and housing resources.
Fundraising Deadline: October 1, 2016
http://give.backonmyfeet.org/2016-JetBlue-Long-Beach-Marathon-Half-Marathon
Back on My Feet is thrilled to participate in the JetBlue Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon for the 3rd year in a row! Join the Back on My Feet FundRacing team in the Full Marathon or Half Marathon and make your miles count for someone in need.
When you FundRace for Back on My Feet, they provide you with a race entry and other perks, and in return you commit to raising a set amount of money that will directly support their mission to combat homelessness through the power of running, community support and essential employment and housing resources.
Fundraising Deadline: October 1, 2016
http://give.backonmyfeet.org/2016-JetBlue-Long-Beach-Marathon-Half-Marathon
In our opinion, Big Sunday’s harbor cruises are awesome. We host underserved, deserving folks on a special cruise through San Pedro Harbor and often many of our guests have never been on a boat before! We’d love volunteers to join us as hosts with an easy assignment — be friendly, hand out donuts, enjoy one another and enjoy the ride. This excursion is part of Big Sunday’s “We’re All in the Same Boat” project in which everyone is encouraged to meet at least one new person. Each cruise leaves at 10 am and returns at 12 pm and all cruises are always free. For more info or to sign up, contact beenish@bigsunday.org.
Imagine LA works with volunteers and vulnerable families to break the cycle of homelessness, poverty, and neglect; and help every member thrive!
Their Family Mentorship Program matches a team of volunteer mentors from committed organizations to work directly with a family for 1-2 years. Imagine LA matches every family member with a one-to-one mentor; plus every family gets a Budget Mentor; and other volunteers help with tutoring, career development, childcare, healthcare, meal-planning and more. Imagine LA works.
Today, kids are excelling in school, parents are on career tracks, saving, maintaining budgets, and everyone remains in stable housing.
The Family Mentorship Program is a transformative experience for Families and Mentors alike. For families escaping the cycle of poverty, a mentor like you can make the difference between surviving and thriving.
All you need to do is take the first step –– please contact Outreach & Communications Manager, Tara Ignont at tara@imaginela.org or 323-944-0210 x412 for a Mentorship Application today!
NOTE: This is an ongoing, daily (M-F) volunteer opportunity!
Help the American Cancer Society prevent kids from smoking by phone banking to pass Prop 56 – a $2 Tobacco Tax (if you don't smoke, you don't pay!). This year alone, 16,800 California kids will start smoking and taxpayers in CA will pay $3.58 Billion for tobacco-related healthcare costs. Volunteers are needed to get the word out and get voters to the polls! To sign up, go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a8af22a6f49-losangeles and all instructions are detailed. For more information, contact Primo Castro at 213-427-7394.
Imagine LA works with volunteers and vulnerable families to break the cycle of homelessness, poverty, and neglect; and help every member thrive!
Their Family Mentorship Program matches a team of volunteer mentors from committed organizations to work directly with a family for 1-2 years. Imagine LA matches every family member with a one-to-one mentor; plus every family gets a Budget Mentor; and other volunteers help with tutoring, career development, childcare, healthcare, meal-planning and more. Imagine LA works.
Today, kids are excelling in school, parents are on career tracks, saving, maintaining budgets, and everyone remains in stable housing.
The Family Mentorship Program is a transformative experience for Families and Mentors alike. For families escaping the cycle of poverty, a mentor like you can make the difference between surviving and thriving.
All you need to do is take the first step –– please contact Outreach & Communications Manager, Tara Ignont at tara@imaginela.org or 323-944-0210 x412 for a Mentorship Application today!
NOTE: This is an ongoing, daily (M-F) volunteer opportunity!
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles is looking for volunteers for their monthly screenings! NFMLA is a non-profit dedicated to supporting emerging indie talent by screening a diverse body of shorts and features each month.
Volunteers are needed for a Friday and Saturday once a month to help with set-up, reception, red carpet, ticketing, and breakdown. The evening is broken into 2 shifts, so when volunteers are not working, they can hang out and enjoy the event! To find out how to help, please contact Marissa@nfmla.org.
Don’t miss the LA Arboretum’s “What's Happening in Gardening” Series!
8 Thursdays, September 15-November 3
9:30am-12pm; $140 for the series; $25 per class
These classes are designed to help you keep up with garden news, trends, tips and pests. Each class begins with an open discussion and plant giveaway, followed by a lecture or hands-on workshop from one of the following speakers:
Sept. 15: Jose & Carrie Hernandez, CJ’s Organic Farm
CJ's Organic Farm grows heirloom vegetables, fruits, and herbs for year-round weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets. They also sell organically grown heirloom vegetables and herb starts for your garden at the CJ’s Organic Farm booth at the Villa Park Farmers’ Market in Pasadena on Tuesday mornings.
Sept. 22: Nancy Bird, Rocks for Your Garden
Nancy Bird, rock expert and owner of NancyRocks, will show beautiful colorful rocks that will compliment your garden. She also will explain the Bureau of Land Management rules and permitting procedures for collecting rocks for free!
Sept. 29: Jill Morganelli, New Gardens & Garden Renovations at the Arboretum
Join Jill Morganelli, the Arboretum’s Horticultural Supervisor, for a discussion about the improvements being made in the gardens to enhance the Arboretum experience for visitors.
Oct. 6: Harold Koopowitz, Fall Blooming Daffodils
Harold Koopowitz currently is first vice president of the American Daffodil Society and editor emeritus for the Orchid Digest, which he edited for 10 years. He is well known internationally for breeding both slipper orchids and miniature daffodils. He is Professor Emeritus of biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Irvine. He will be signing copies of his new novel, Diamonds and Disas: The Further Adventures of George and Matilda.
Oct. 13: Joe Brosius, Magic Growers
As production manager at Magic Growers, Joe Brosius is responsible for propagating and growing all plant material products. He also is a partner in the nursery and a past president of the L.A. chapter of California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC). Joe received his degree in ornamental horticulture from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.
Oct. 20: Christine Anthony, Cook Now from Your Garden & Plant Now in Your Garden
A seasonal look at the edibles you're harvesting now and what to do with them, followed by a discussion of what is best to plant now for your meals in the months to come. Christine Anthony, the Renee's Garden Seeds rep to the Arboretum and a UCCE Master Gardener, will share practical tips learned from life long experience in the garden and the kitchen. Please be prepared to share your recipe ideas and gardening tips with one and all.
Oct. 27: Nicholas Staddon, The New American Garden
Nicholas Staddon travels the United States and the world in search of new trends and great plants for American gardens. In his lively and informative presentation, he’ll discuss some of the issues facing American gardeners today: invasive plants, the water situation, the plight of the pollinators, and what the solutions might be. Nicholas also will share some of his very best plant suggestions for our region.
Nov. 3: Leigh Adams: Permaculture: A Gardener’s Perspective
Interpretive horticulturalist and creator of the Crescent Garden, Leigh Adams will give us an overview of her experience working with Permaculture. She will then lead us on a private tour of the garden she created “behind the scenes” at the Arboretum.
