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.
“The Back Nine” is a playable educational golf course about zoning and redevelopment politics in Downtown LA. Each hole of the course explores a different aspect of zoning and its political implications. Specifically the course connects with the planned DTLA2040 rezoning plan which will have dramatic effects on Skid Row.
We’d like to create additional evening hours “sponsored” by interested people and organizations. Sponsoring doesn’t involve money – it just means you’ll commit to bring a group of people to the golf course. We’re equipped with a projector and about 60 chairs, in case you want to connect the visit with a meeting or a discussion. Our hope is that the space can be used as a reading room/meeting room for groups engaged in land use struggles downtown and across LA.
If you are interested and think you could bring 5, 10, 20, or even 100 people to the space, shoot us an e-mail and we can try to coordinate a night (or a morning or afternoon) to keep the space open. rostenwoo@gmail.com or info@lapovertydept.org
Examples of groups:
• your colleagues or coworkers
• people you are organizing with
• your cultural or educational institution
• your students, classmates, or fellow informal learners
• your children’s playgroup
• your friends
The Back 9: Golf and Zoning Policy in Los Angeles is a multidisciplinary art project interrogating the power structures that have literally built Los Angeles. Ever since the city of Los Angeles created the first set of urban zoning codes in the nation, the city has been particularly effective at wielding these codes as a means for disenfranchising communities, historically handing over an extraordinary amount of control to the city’s developers. City zoning codes are now in process of being re-written as part of the Re:Code LA initiative and the new codes will first be applied in downtown. Seemingly innocent changes will effectively endanger the integrity of the Skid Row neighborhood, as current zoning mandates that all housing construction within Skid Row’s 50 square blocks be affordable to the extreme poor. Shifting zoning criteria away from “use” specifically opens the area to market rate development and facilitates the displacement of the thousands of formerly homeless hotel residents now living permanently in Skid Row.
Venice Community Housing has a variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from regular on-going projects to one-time experiences. For more info on VCH’s current volunteer opportunities, please visit http://www.vchcorp.org/volunteer/.
For all opportunities, volunteers must be over 18 and complete a background check, unless offering an approved one-time service. Tutors are required to hold a B.A (A.A will be considered). Regular availability and experience with mentoring low-income youth preferred.
To get involved with VCH, please complete a Volunteer Application and contact Paola Fontana at pfontana@vchcorp.org.
Please note: These activities are ONGOING.
SeniorServ provides services to over 1,000 frail, isolated, homebound older adults daily who are in need of companionship. Many homebound elders are lonely and do not or cannot reach out to others.
If you find joy in making a difference and enjoy listening or talking, friendly visiting is the right volunteer opportunity for you. Volunteers visit in the home of the older adult and offer warmth, friendship and understanding to make life more meaningful.
Volunteers play an important part in the elders' well-being by helping to restore feelings of self worth, dignity and promoting independence. Volunteers are needed throughout Central, North and West Orange County. Families are encouraged to volunteer.
Requirements
Volunteers will need a California Driver's License and proof of automobile insurance, or have a legal guardian who can provide the above mentioned items.
Before being matched with a senior, the volunteer completes a background check, necessary paperwork, and meets with the Volunteer Manager for an interview and brief training.
For more information, please contact Linda Molthen, Volunteer Coordinator, at lmolthen@seniorserv.org or 714-229-3377. Visit http://www.communityseniorserv.com/get-involved/friendly-visitor.html for more details.
NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly event.
The North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry is always delighted to have new volunteers and there are several ways to get involved:
There are several packing teams who pack groceries at Temple Beth Hillel. Dates and times of individual teams are arranged through the Packing Team Coordinator, Leslye Adelman. Please contact Leslye on her email at momof3inla@att.net to get involved.
The Transportation Teams transport the packed groceries from Temple Beth Hillel to First Christian Church located on Colfax Avenue throughout the week. The dates and times of the individual teams are organized by the Transportation Team Coordintor, Chris Wilkinson. Please contact Chris on his email at cgwilkinson@gmail.com to get involved.
Transportation teams pickup Thursdays and Sundays using a provided truck.
The whole process transporting from 150-200 prepacked bags of food takes about one hour to complete.
Thursday pickup teams generally operate between 5:00-8:00PM.
Sunday pickup teams generally operate between 8:00-9:30AM and 1:00-3:00PM.
Food Distribution Teams:
FOOD DISTRIBUTION TEAMS:
The Food Distribution Teams are responsible for distributing food to our clients at First Christian Church. These teams work during our hours of operation on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please call a representative at 818-760-3575 during operation hours to get involved.
Listing of Volunteer Positions by Jobs:
Hand Out Food Monday and Friday
Unload Trucks
Food Shelvers
Bag Packers
Bag Movers
Pick Up Donated Bread
Bagel Brigade
Serve on Committees
The Los Angeles Day Care Center provides day care services for low-income families around the garment, flower and produce districts. Volunteers are welcome to assist one or mutiple days to help with the various activities around the classroom, office and recess. Volunteers must complete the required Protect the Mission training and have their fingers prints done prior to working at this facility.
Must be 18 or older and have experience working with preschoolers to volunteer
Our Homeless Service Center connects homeless individuals and families with services, housing and case management. We provide laundry facilities, showers, mail boxes and assistance with registering to receive hot meals at Bread & Roses Cafe.
Volunteer duties include: Assisting homeless clients with making appointments for services (laundry, showers, meals, etc.), sorting mail, and providing other assistance as needed.
Requirements include being able to stand for long periods of time, alphabetize mail, greet clients, etc
Currently, the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission provides emergency services consisting of hot meals, food items to go, clean clothes, new undergarments and socks, hygiene kits, blankets and referrals at 6425 Tyrone Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401 weekly (Monday through Friday from 12 – 1pm). Mail and veterinary services and a computer lab are all available for clients' use 9:00 am – 1:00 pm; lunch is served at 12:15 pm. The Mission has provided nearly 207,000 hot meals, 230 referrals to shelters and 61,000 nights of shelter, 49,000 showers, 20,000 articles of clothing and 6,500 hygiene packets within 24 months of operation. Volunteer today to help serve a hot meal to someone in need! For more info, please contact Laurie Craft at 818-804-5507, ext. 1002 or laurie@hopeofthevalley.org.
NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!
Save the Date! Join us for Drag Queen Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s (West Hollywood) on Wednesday, November 1st to raise much-needed funds for Bark Avenue Foundation. For a $20 suggested donation, you’ll get 10 Bingo cards plus 1 bonus card to play. Event includes prizes and live auction items too. Grab a friend and join us for a fun night in West Hollywood saving animals and playing Bingo! If you can’t make it out for Drag Queen Bingo, then please consider making a donation! For event details, click here.
There are countless ways to volunteer and make an impact in someone's life at LA Family Housing (LAFH). Below are just a few examples!
Dining Hall: Interested in an opportunity that includes more interaction with clients? Work alongside LAFH’s fabulous kitchen staff to prepare a meal and visit with individual residents in Bridge Housing as they dine. Volunteer individually or groups up to 20 can be accommodated.
Donation Sorting: Are you a natural organizer? Do you like hands-on work? LAFH receives a wide array of in-kind donations such as household items, personal care products, and clothing. Help their staff in organizing and sorting these donations. This is a great team-building opportunity for groups!
Welcome Desk: Are you friendly and helpful? Assist LAFH’s busy staff in fielding resident questions at Bridge Housing for individuals. Individual opportunity. Training and regular commitment required.
Office Support: Are your closets meticulously organized? LAFH wants your help to sort, file, label, and perform other fun organizing tasks that involve reams of paper and electronic data.
Share your Talent: Do you have a talent or skill that you would like to share with LAFH residents? They would love to learn it! Recent activities include filmmaking and journalism workshops, singing lessons, sewing and cooking instruction, sports club and dance classes.
To schedule a tour or learn more about any LAFH volunteer opportunities, contact the Volunteer Services Coordinator at volunteer@lafh.org or 818-255-2775.
NOTE: There are ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunities!
The Los Angeles Day Care Center provides day care services for low-income families around the garment, flower and produce districts. Volunteers are welcome to assist one or mutiple days to help with the various activities around the classroom, office and recess. Volunteers must complete the required Protect the Mission training and have their fingers prints done prior to working at this facility.
Must be 18 or older and have experience working with preschoolers to volunteer
