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.
Dear Neighborhood and Community Leaders & Urban Forester Volunteers —
Would you like to make a difference for the environment?
Come help plant 100 new street trees in the Ridgewood Triangle neighborhood in Long Beach!
Ridgewood Triangle Neighborhood
Tree Planting
“Plant a Tree for the Holidays”
Saturday, December 21, 2019
9 a.m. – noon
Meeting Location: 4681 Goldfield Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
Up to 100 trees will be planted in the neighborhood bounded by:
Del Amo Boulevard –- North
San Antonio Drive –- South
Cherry Avenue — East
Orange Avenue -– West
Ridgewood Triangle Neighborhood Association is committed to help plant, water and care for these trees for their first year.
What can you expect on planting day? I thought you all would like to check out this awesome video from a recent tree planting event!
Would your group like to be a volunteer partner for this event?
Volunteers of all ages are welcome at this event to help plant and water these young trees. No experience is needed, we will train you.
Can you and/or your organization serve as Water Brigade volunteers to help water the newly planted trees on planting day?
Volunteers are needed to help make sure each tree is deep watered with 15 gallons on planting day to help them get off to a good start.
Would your group like to provide refreshments for the volunteers?
- Ines with Ridgewood Heights Neighborhood Association, Lightning Camp Fire Group and Boy Scouts of America – Lone Scouts will bring volunteers and water and breakfast pastries for the volunteers!
- Jim and Donna with Ridgewood Triangle Neighborhood Association will bring volunteers and will grill hot dogs for the volunteers!
Can you and/or your organization assist with watering the trees during their first year?
Thank you for your pledge to water the new trees during their first year:
- Ridgewood Triangle Neighborhood Association
The Port of Long Beach and CAL FIRE have provided funding to plant 10,000 trees in Long Beach neighborhoods through 2022. Residents, businesses and community groups partner with Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau to provide volunteers at the tree planting events.
Public Works will survey the neighborhood for tree planting locations and Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau staff will mail letters to the property owners of all the adjacent sites to notify them that trees will be installed and to provide them with an opportunity to decline them.
Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau staff will deliver all the trees and tools on planting day.
Quick Overview: We are working to fight hunger and food waste in Southern California, and we'd love to have you join us. Mission or Broader Program Description: Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people in need, and inspiring others to do the same. Impact: You will be collecting beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise get thrown away, and donating 100% to local food banks, pantries, and shelters. Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities: Join the Volunteer Glean Team to help us collect donations of fresh produce from vendors at your local farmers market and box, sort, and weigh the produce. Volunteers should be comfortable carrying boxes of produce that may weigh up to 40 pounds, but don't need to worry about bringing equipment or transporting the food. Wear comfortable work clothing and close-toed shoes, and bring water to drink. Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. * Volunteers under the age of 18 will need to bring and have signed by a parent/guardian a Volunteer Agreement & Release for Minors. The form can be found on L.A. Works website Q&A section.
**All volunteers must register through the Food Forward website. Sign up here: www.foodforward.org/volunteer.**
After expressing interest, the opportunity leader will contact you to confirm your participation and provide directions for this opportunity.
Quick Overview: We are working to fight hunger and food waste in Southern California, and we'd love to have you join us.
Mission or Broader Program Description: Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people in need, and inspiring others to do the same.
Impact: You will be collecting beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise get thrown away, and donating 100% to local food banks, pantries, and shelters.
Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities: Join the Volunteer Glean Team to help us collect donations of fresh produce from vendors at your local farmers market and box, sort, and weigh the produce. Volunteers should be comfortable carrying boxes of produce that may weigh up to 40 pounds, but don't need to worry about bringing equipment or transporting the food. Wear comfortable work clothing and close-toed shoes, and bring water to drink.
Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
**All volunteers must register through the Food Forward website. Sign up here: www.foodforward.org/volunteer.**
After expressing interest, the opportunity leader will contact you to confirm your participation and provide directions for this opportunity.
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.
Audubon California’s 4000-acre Starr Ranch Sanctuary in southeast Orange County is pleased to invite you to join them as a volunteer "Weed Warrior." Weeds can alter habitats and have negative effects on wildlife. Volunteers help remove smilo grass, periwinkle, English ivy, and English plantain using non-chemical methods.
No experience necessary. Training and tools provided. Please wear clothes that can get dirty, long pants, closed-toe shoes and layers for changing weather. Bring snacks and a picnic lunch, if you wish. A personal water bottle, a hat and sunscreen are strongly recommended.
Adults and children ages 8 and older are welcome. Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults. Service at Starr Ranch fulfills community service requirements. Please take a look at their volunteer days from November 2019 through May 2020. Find the dates that work for you and RSVP to Sandy DeSimone, sdesimone@audubon.org
2019-2020 Saturday Volunteer Days
9am – 12:30 pm each date (*except April)
November 9 & 16
December 7 & 14
January 11 & 18
February 8 & 15
March 7 & 21
April 4, 11, & 18 *(1:30pm – 4:30pm)
May 9 & 16
If you can’t find a date that works for you and would still like to volunteer, it is possible to volunteer during the week, Monday – Friday. Please reply with a suggested date to Sandy, sdesimone@audubon.org and they will get back to you.
For more information on Starr Ranch Sanctuary call 949-858-0309 or visit their website: www.starrranch.org
Quick Overview: We are working to fight hunger and food waste in Southern California, and we'd love to have you join us. Mission or Broader Program Description: Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people in need, and inspiring others to do the same. Impact: You will be collecting beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise get thrown away, and donating 100% to local food banks, pantries, and shelters. Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities: Join the Volunteer Glean Team to help us collect donations of fresh produce from vendors at your local farmers market and box, sort, and weigh the produce. Volunteers should be comfortable carrying boxes of produce that may weigh up to 40 pounds, but don't need to worry about bringing equipment or transporting the food. Wear comfortable work clothing and close-toed shoes, and bring water to drink. Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. * Volunteers under the age of 18 will need to bring and have signed by a parent/guardian a Volunteer Agreement & Release for Minors. The form can be found on L.A. Works website Q&A section.
**All volunteers must register through the Food Forward website. Sign up here: www.foodforward.org/volunteer.**
After expressing interest, the opportunity leader will contact you to confirm your participation and provide directions for this opportunity.
Regular volunteers commit to serving at The Center 1+ days a week in the capacity of participating in or leading groups, attending coffee hour, cleaning, or assisting with office work. Weekly shifts range from 1.5-8 hours per shift.
As an example one of our regular volunteers, Tim, leads a group called “Timspirations” in which he shows an array of inspiration videos from across the web. He then leads the group in a discussion on their reflections and anecdotes about the clips.
Quick Overview: We are working to fight hunger and food waste in Southern California, and we'd love to have you join us.
Mission or Broader Program Description: Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people in need, and inspiring others to do the same.
Impact: You will be collecting beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise get thrown away, and donating 100% to local food banks, pantries, and shelters.
Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities: Join the Volunteer Glean Team to help us collect donations of fresh produce from vendors at your local farmers market and box, sort, and weigh the produce. Volunteers should be comfortable carrying boxes of produce that may weigh up to 40 pounds, but don't need to worry about bringing equipment or transporting the food. Wear comfortable work clothing and close-toed shoes, and bring water to drink.
Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
**All volunteers must register through the Food Forward website. Sign up here: www.foodforward.org/volunteer.**
After expressing interest, the opportunity leader will contact you to confirm your participation and provide directions for this opportunity.
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!
