On Sunday May 2, 2010 over 50,000 Los Angelenos participated in the largest community service day in America: Big Sunday. There were over 400 projects of community service, from gardening to beach clean up to repainting schools. There were also HUB locations in which you could show up and be put to work in a number of different capacities. University Synagogue in Brentwood served as a HUB location and offered over 12 different community service projects.
Members of University Synagogue volunteered to be a HUB location so that Los Angelenos of all ages, races and religions would have a safe and friendly environment in which they could engage in repairing the community. University Synagogue has many members who live in Bren
twood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades,and the surrounding areas.
Over 35 members of the Ismaili Muslim community joined hand in hand with members of University Synagogue as they made over 300 lunches for the Ocean Park Community Center. Pre-School aged children rolled up their sleeves and helped sell Lemonade for charity. 100% of the proceeds from the Lemonade Sale went to Shoes That Fit, a charity which provides new school shoes for needy children.
Teenagers and Senior Citizens worked together knitting beanies and quilting blankets for Cancer Patients. Youth and adults made paper mache Flower Pots for patients at various convalescent homes. Thousands of Books were donated, sorted and delivered to Veterans and Title 1 schools. Piles and piles of clothing were collected, sorted and donated to Veterans and various shelters.
A vegetable garden was planted to harvest fresh vegetables for the needy; people donated canned goods which were later taken to a food pantry. Individuals also had the opportunity to sign up to be a Bone Marrow donor with City of Hope as well as give blood with the Red Cross.
Members from across the community joined together on Big Sunday to mend some of the brokenness in our community to do our share to make this world a better place.
