Volunteer opportunities this holiday season and a new book to help you get there too

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BY KAREN YOUNG

With the holiday season commencing in full force next week for Thanksgiving, I want to share Big Sunday volunteer opportunities, as well as a new book about volunteerism by its founder, David Levinson.

Big Sunday originated in 1999 as Mitzvah Day at Temple Israel of Hollywood by Levinson as a single day of service with 200 volunteers at 19 non-profits. It is now the largest giving organization in the nation, having grown into a weekend event every May that involves over 50,000 volunteers and 500 non-profit sites throughout the Southland.

David Levinson and his rescue bassett hound, Lou.

However, rather than waiting until May, Big Sunday has a calendar of volunteer opportunities for every day of the year. They also have put together an incredible list of places to volunteer over the holidays. The goal is community building for people of all ages and from every walk of life . There are opportunities all over the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles on the list.

Big Sunday also hosts a “Monthly on Melrose” event— a series of workshops, collections, performances and other events to benefit their nonprofit partners. The November “Monthly on Melrose,” which takes place on November 21, will focus on military veterans with a choir performance and dinner.

Check out ways to volunteer in your own way.

If you want a gift idea with a “giving back” theme, check out Levinson’s new book, Everyone Helps, Everyone Wins – a part humorous memoir, part guide book that will help people to boost their “Volunteer IQ.” He provides ideas and insights that are invaluable. Levinson has tips for those looking to volunteer as a family, school, faith group, or business, and provides guidance for retirees, those between jobs, prospective fund raisers, and others. The book’s appendix, “52 Ways You Can Help This Year” provides a terrific roadmap for how to help, as well as concrete plans to assist people in implementing those ideas – one for every week of the year.