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.
Back on my Feet Greater Los Angeles invites you to take part in their 2nd annual free community Flower Market Fun Run through Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, February 11.
The 4-mile community run will include giveaways, refreshments and snacks! Sign up today by clicking HERE.
Back on My Feet combats homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources.
Please join Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for their Outdoor Volunteer Day from 9am to 12pm at Alta Vicente Reserve! They will be working to remove invasive weeds which degrade important wildlife habitat and replacing them with native plants!
Please meet them at the Alta Vicente trailhead next to St Paul's Lutheran Church at 31290 Palos Verdes Dr W, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. Please do not park in the church parking lot. Park on the street. Extra parking can be found in Golden Cove Shopping Center.
The group will be working outdoors, so please wear closed-toed shoes, sun protection and be sure to bring drinking water and a snack. A reusable water bottle is recommended. Thank you for volunteering to conserve the Palos Verdes Peninsula!
To sign up please visit:
http://pvplc.volunteerhub.com
Reading to Kids organizes monthly reading clubs on the second Saturday of every month at eight downtown Los Angeles elementary schools. The reading clubs run from 9 am – 12 pm. Pairs of volunteer readers read aloud to small groups of students from the elementary school (typically between 4 and 6 children per group) in a fun environment. Teachers at the elementary school provide supervision and guidance throughout the morning.
To volunteer at their next reading clubs, please visit http://www.readingtokids.org where you'll need to register and RSVP. For more information, please e-mail info@readingtokids.org or call 310-479-7455.
The next reading clubs will be held on February 11th from 9 am to 12 pm. For exact locations, please visit http://www.readingtokids.org.
Volunteers must be 18 or older to volunteer with Reading to Kids.
SoCal Quilts of Valor creates handmade quilts to be presented to military to thank them for their service, welcome them home and help them in their healing. They will be sewing, ironing and trimming threads to create these works of art. Volunteers may even have some hand-binding to do as well. To join the group, please contact Barbara Winkler.
Join TREE MUSKETEERS Tree Team and youth leaders on the second and fourth Saturday of the month to care for trees in El Segundo's urban forests!
Activities include watering, mulching, weeding, pruning and litter abatement. Tree Musketeers provides the tools and know-how, you just need to come ready to "dig in" to your community.
Youth 10-17 unaccompanied by parents must submit a parent consent form online here: https://treemusketeers.org/parental-consent-form/. Youth under 10 must be accompanied.
Be an environmental leader with Tree Musketeers! This four-hour training covers leading volunteers young and old, ISA standards for tree planting and more about how young people are taking charge in the environmental movement. Trainees will earn a Supervisor certificate at the LEAD Graduation Ceremony after satisfactory class completion and putting their new skills to work at a planting. In addition to leading tree plantings, Youth Planting Supervisors serve as representatives and leaders of TREE MUSKETEERS and the environmental movement at tree care events, fairs and other events.
Register today!
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.
The L.A. Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K Run/Walk is one of the largest and longest-running Chinese New Year charity runs in the country. The event is 100% volunteer organized and 100% of net proceeds are reinvested in the local community.
Every year, more than 500 volunteers help make the race possible. Please join the Firecracker volunteer team to provide runners and bikers the best experience possible!
Volunteer Days
- Saturday, February 4, 2017 – Goodie Bag Day
- Saturday, February 11, 2017 – Pre-registration pickup, Late Registration, Community Event, Bike Ride
- Sunday, February 12, 2017 – Race day
For more details on how you can help, please visit http://www.firecracker10k.org/volunteer/.
Please contact the volunteer committee at Stacey.trang@firecracker10k.org with questions.
At TREE MUSKETEERS kids are boss, but adult volunteers looking to support youth leaders can put their "Back Seat Driving" skills into action by joining the Adult Partner Team! This is also a great opportunity for you to volunteer with your child whether they are a general volunteer or Youth Planting Supervisor. Pick your schedule as you go, but folks who can help at Tree Musketeer's annual tree planting event, Arbor Day Celebration in March, are especially needed.
Register for the orientation through Tree Musketeer's website, email Volunteers@TreeMusketeers.org or call 310-322-0263 for more info.
Instructor: Master Arnold Chien
Tai Chi is a martial art based on the theory of an ancient classic called “I Ching”. Kinetic Tai Chi is created by Master Chien based on this foundation coupling with contemporary Physics of potential & kinetic energy. The training sessions include striking, throwing & submission techniques. There are 10 levels of form to advance. Combining this advanced physical routine with Tai Chi’s rich thinking, students will benefit lifelong health, achieve mental superiority and enjoy high level combat skills.
Thursdays
9:00am-10:30am
Winter 1st: 1/26, 2/02, 2/09, 2/16
Winter 2nd: 2/23, 3/02, 3/09, 3/16
Spring 1st: 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/04
Spring 2nd: 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/01
Cost for Classes:
- $35 per month – members
- $45 per month – non–members
- $15 Drop In – per day
- 10% discount if you sign up for 2 sessions
Pre-registration preferred; To register please call the Education Department at 626-821-4623.
Grandmaster Arnold Chien is the founder of Kinetic Tai Chi, 2012 & 2014 Kungfu master at USC Pacific Asia Museum & 2008 Chinese idol in martial art category. In 2013, he became the first instructor to teach Tai Chi at the legendary Gold’s Gym Arcadia, CA. Chien’s heavy focus on the principle of softness to conquer hardness has helped students to achieve not only the physical limitations, but their mental ones as well, thereby reach the ultimate level of “soft as silk and hard as steel”.


