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.
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.
STUDIO VOLUNTEERISM
Studio volunteers work alongside teaching artists to support K-12 students as they explore their own creativity in one of our seven studios: Visual Arts, Ceramics, Creativity Lab, Media Arts, Drama, Dance, and Music. Studio volunteerism requires a once-per-week, two-hour commitment for the duration of a session: 3 – 10 weeks total, depending on the program. In order to be eligible for studio volunteerism, you must participate in a one-on-one interview and orientation. Additionally, all studio volunteers are required to sign a background check consent prior to serving in the studios with students.
LEARNING AND ACHIEVING THROUGH THE ARTS (LATA) serves elementary and middle school students from the Los Angeles Unified School District and local charter schools. Twice a week, for seven- or eight-week sessions, students and their classroom teachers are brought to the Inner-City Arts campus for experiential instruction in the visual and performing arts during the school day. LATA studio volunteers support by assisting teaching artists with studio set-up and transitions, motivating students to engage in the creative process, and sometimes participating in projects and exercises alongside students. LATA studio volunteers support periods 1 -3 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and periods 1-2 on Tuesday and Thursday in the following volunteer shifts:
Period 1: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Period 2:10:15 am – 12:15 pm
Period 3: 12:15 pm – 2:15 pm
THE VISUAL, MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTES offer self-select, after-school and weekend workshops to middle and high school students, once weekly across ten weeks during Fall and Spring sessions and twice weekly across five weeks over summer. Institutes volunteers support teaching artists and students by lending their expertise in a specific medium and assisting teaching artists with studio set-up and transitions. Volunteer shifts vary from workshop to workshop.
ARTISTS IN THE MIDDLE (AIM) is Inner-City Arts' summer programming for incoming 6th – 8th grade students, during which students have the opportunity to hone their skills in four different art forms during one of two three-week sessions. AIM studio volunteers support by assisting teaching artists with studio set-up and transitions, motivating students to engage in the creative process, and sometimes participating in projects and exercises alongside students. AIM studio volunteers support periods 1 -2 Monday – Friday in the following volunteer shifts:
Period 1: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Period 2:10:15 am – 12:15 pm
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained, dedicated and caring community volunteer, who is assigned to work one-on-one with a child in the foster care system. CASAs are sworn in by a dependency court judge to advocate for what is in the child’s best interest. With legal standing to fully investigate a child’s circumstances, CASAs make recommendations to the court regarding how the system and community can best serve and support the child. Our volunteers have the ability to broadly influence the life of a foster child by advocating across many important life issues, including permanent placement, health care, education, mental health and enrichment activities.
Our most significant accomplishments happen every day – when an overlooked opportunity is found, a service is secured or an adult connection is made that will help keep a child safe and give him or her an opportunity to succeed.
Volunteers are essential to the success of Good Shepherd Center and help us improve the lives of homeless women and children in our community. We would love to have you join our team as a volunteer. Prior to volunteering we strongly reccomend that you participate in a tour of our facilites. Tours are offered the second Saturday of the month at 10:00 am. NOTE: There will be no tour in December.
Tours begin at our Farley House Residence, located at 1671 Beverly Blvd. Parking and entrance to the building are in the alley located one block north of Beverly Blvd., off Union Ave.
The tour takes a little more than an hour and will be followed by a Volunteer Information and Orientation. If you are interested in volunteering or learning how how you can get involved (e.g. donating, serving on our Auxiliary Board, or assisting with fund-raising), we strongly encourage you to participate in the tour.
Those that attend the Volunteer Information and Orientation portion will:
- Learn more about Good Shepherd Centers’ programs
- Be provided with a list of current volunteer opportunities and a job description
- Have an opportunity to fill out a volunteer application
If you would like to participate in the tour or attend the Volunteer Information and Orientation, please contact Annemarie at ahowse@gschomeless.org.
Requirements for Volunteers:
- Fill out a volunteer application
- Pass a background check.or be live scan fingerprinted at one of our Live Scan Centers. (depending on your volunteer position).
- TB clearance (at your expense or there are facilities that do it for free; we will provide you with that information)
- Interview by a staff member/s
- Please note: Minors do not need to pass a background check but will need parental or guardian approval (signature)
If you would like to attend the orientation, please contact Annemarie at ahowse@gschomeless.org.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Fund-raising
- Join our Outreach Team
- Join our Auxiliary Board
- Assist in our Family Services Program
- Serve as a tutor in Math or English for women working on their GED. Tutoring is one on one and hours are flexible.
- Prepare (or cater) a meal and serve to residents at one of our shelters
- Facilitate an employment related seminar-this can be a one time commitment.
- Organize our donation room. You must be able to work independently with little supervision. Hours are flexible but must be weekdays, during regular business hours. Great organizational abilities a plus!
- Facilitate a drive (food, toiletries, beauty products). Ask about our incentive program.
- Volunteer opportunities change periodically depending on our needs at the time. We welcome your ideas.
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.
STUDIO VOLUNTEERISM
Studio volunteers work alongside teaching artists to support K-12 students as they explore their own creativity in one of our seven studios: Visual Arts, Ceramics, Creativity Lab, Media Arts, Drama, Dance, and Music. Studio volunteerism requires a once-per-week, two-hour commitment for the duration of a session: 3 – 10 weeks total, depending on the program. In order to be eligible for studio volunteerism, you must participate in a one-on-one interview and orientation. Additionally, all studio volunteers are required to sign a background check consent prior to serving in the studios with students.
LEARNING AND ACHIEVING THROUGH THE ARTS (LATA) serves elementary and middle school students from the Los Angeles Unified School District and local charter schools. Twice a week, for seven- or eight-week sessions, students and their classroom teachers are brought to the Inner-City Arts campus for experiential instruction in the visual and performing arts during the school day. LATA studio volunteers support by assisting teaching artists with studio set-up and transitions, motivating students to engage in the creative process, and sometimes participating in projects and exercises alongside students. LATA studio volunteers support periods 1 -3 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and periods 1-2 on Tuesday and Thursday in the following volunteer shifts:
Period 1: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Period 2:10:15 am – 12:15 pm
Period 3: 12:15 pm – 2:15 pm
THE VISUAL, MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTES offer self-select, after-school and weekend workshops to middle and high school students, once weekly across ten weeks during Fall and Spring sessions and twice weekly across five weeks over summer. Institutes volunteers support teaching artists and students by lending their expertise in a specific medium and assisting teaching artists with studio set-up and transitions. Volunteer shifts vary from workshop to workshop.
ARTISTS IN THE MIDDLE (AIM) is Inner-City Arts' summer programming for incoming 6th – 8th grade students, during which students have the opportunity to hone their skills in four different art forms during one of two three-week sessions. AIM studio volunteers support by assisting teaching artists with studio set-up and transitions, motivating students to engage in the creative process, and sometimes participating in projects and exercises alongside students. AIM studio volunteers support periods 1 -2 Monday – Friday in the following volunteer shifts:
Period 1: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Period 2:10:15 am – 12:15 pm
Join us for TM@10 (Thursday Mornings at 10) at Big Sunday headquarters where we’ll host a different service project each week that benefits a worthy cause! Enjoy good food, good company and good deeds; everyone is welcome. Some of the groups we’re helping include My Friend’s Place, Covenant House, and lots of shelters, hospitals, and senior facilities around all over town. For more info or to sign up, contact rob@bigsunday.org. Click HERE for TM@10’s full schedule.
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.
Do you have an artistic or athletic hobby?
Will you teach it to a kid impacted by chronic illness?
We can match you with an inspiring, extraordinary young person — or group of young people — impacted by chronic illness. CoachArt students want to learn about:
Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Soccer
Tennis
Volleyball
and more…
Arts
Cooking
Guitar
Painting
Piano
Singing
and more…
CoachArt Volunteers Must:
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Pass a Background Check (*$18 cost for background check to be covered by volunteer. Hardship waiver available).
- Attend our CoachArt Volunteer Training
- Complete at least 8 hours of direct volunteer service per year
- Consistently communicate through email or phone
- Access to public transportation or vehicle is highly recommended
If you meet these requirements, we encourage you to join the CoachArt team today to become a part of a community that connects children in need with an opportunity to engage in life-changing arts and athletic lessons!
Each Monday Afternoon at 2pm, we host a fun, hands-on service project at Big Sunday headquarters called MA@2 (Monday Afternoons at 2). It’s a great way for folks of all ages to get together to help others. Join us for all the fun! To RSVP for upcoming MA@2 events, please contact beenish@bigsunday.org. 
Click HERE for MA@2's full schedule.
