- “Everything went off beautifully. And, as always, I felt as though I got back tons more than I put into it!”
—Gerry Furth-Sides, who worked at West Valley Occupational Center
- “I want to thank Big Sunday for helping us help the homeless shelter. We may make volunteering with Big Sunday an annual USC Alumni event.”
—Tiffany Long, who worked at the New Image Emergency
Homeless Shelter
- “We picked up a ton of stuff! Veronica will be speechless when she sees the quantity of clothing. MEND says a great big thank you!”
—Carolyn Rose at MEND, who received some of the clothes
we collected
- “I never believed it would be so much fun! Really.”
—Ruth Kremen, captain at the 28th Street School
- “I have never seen so much generosity and selfless giving in one day. Someone apologized that he had just lost his job...and then handed me a bag full of food...Another person said: ‘I am strapped, but here’s $20.00.’”
—Sande Hart, who took in 20,000 pounds of food from the supermarket collections in Orange County
- “Our rescue facility is safer, brighter, cleaner and opened up our world to an entire new team of volunteers, many of whom expressed interest in returning on a regular basis.”
—Melanie Pozez at the Bark Avenue Foundation
- “Thank you so much for the young musicians — they were so enjoyed by our seniors and everyone in the community”
—Joan Spiegel at The Gardens of Santa Monica
- “Great weekend...how you got it organized and have things go so smoothly, wow. Many thanks. Same time next year?”
—Hannah Almstead at Quilters for Others
- “We hosted more than 500 volunteers working on 15 philan- thropic projects for all ages, from 3 to 103. Each and every one was a success! Your kind hearts, generosity and hard work make a big impact on Big Sunday.”
—Rabbi Kellner, Robin LeBowe and Ali Myers
at the Temple Isaiah hub
- “Watching the volunteers that helped us gave me a great sense of how wonderful every one of those people are. I know now that volunteering for other projects next year to help Big Sunday will be on my calendar.”
—Anthony Garcia at Project New Hope
- “What you guys do is incredible.”
—Sandy Phillips, who worked at the Manna Conejo Valley Foodbank
- “The Laurence School community came out in full force on Big Sunday...The children, parents, teachers and administrators left feeling such pride and care for our greater community.”
—Jeffrey Tremblay, assistant principal at The Laurence School, whose volunteers went to the Food Pantry in Valley Village
- “What an incredible weekend! We got an incredible amount done and we’re so proud and excited about the garden.”
—Susan Yank about the Watts Tower Project
- “As exhausted as I am today, I feel truly blessed and am grateful you allowed me to be a part of the BIG SUNDAY basketball clinic; the kids...seemed overjoyed to have folks come out into their community and actually spend time with them.”
—Robert Wilson, who volunteered to coach at Basketballfest
- “Our residents truly enjoyed the time they had at the Farmer's Market and spoke highly of how well they were treated. Big Sunday is truly building a stronger community.”
—LaShanda Maze, from New Directions for Vets, who sent veterans to the Farmers Market for the Bingo Breakfast
- “I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did for us on Big Sunday! The youth absolutely loved the entire day! They all had so much fun!”
—Mary Pearl at United Friends of the Children, whose kids went on a hike at Whittier Narrows State Park
- “No kid should wake up in a hospital. But this morning, some kid at Children’s Hospital is going to wake up knowing that there is a community that cares.”
—Rabbi Ed Feinstein at Valley Beth Shalom about the Recording Books for Kids project
- “The angels are smiling on you.”
—Wilma Daniels, athletic director, Pilgrim School
- “I was proud and honored that my employer was able to participate in Big Sunday in such a big way. The two times I volunteered were truly inspiring.”
—Ilana Buss, Farmers Market
- “You sure know how to throw a party. The energy was wonderful, and it brought as much joy to me as it did the clients.”
—Dawn Wells at The Salvation Army Bell Shelter
- “This has been my first Big Sunday experience and it was amazing! Your staff was incredible, but more importantly, what it did for the community at large is huge.”
—Kim Norris, President of The Lung Cancer Foundation of America
- “The flower-pot making was a rousing success. The residents (at Sunrise Senior Center) were absolutely thrilled...it was a joy to see that along with the kids hand delivering them.”
—Jan Weiss, who made flowerpots at Campbell Hall School
- “KEEN LA loved participating in Big Sunday! Many of the volunteers were interested in coming back again, which is the best thing one can hope for in an event like this!”
—Leah Weiner at Kids Enjoy Exercise Now, KEEN L.A.
- “Great community-building for us and wonderful help for the agency we supported.”
—Rabbi Len Muroff at the Calabasas hub
- “Your vision came alive at our school...I know we will all have very good memories of our day and look forward to participating again next year. We will be wearing our Big Sunday shirts with pride.”
—Carol Rowe at St. John the Evangelist School
- “We had a very successful day yesterday and, as always, I am in Big Sunday’s debt for creating this wonderful experience.”
—Corie Brown, captain of the Angel’s Flight Project
- “I have taught at 28th Street School for 15 years and I have never witnessed
anything like it...The school looks great, and the satisfaction on the faces of the students as they put on their finishing touches was priceless.”
—Scott Orland, a teacher at the 28th Street School
- “I have told everyone I know about Big Sunday, and look forward to being a bigger part of it next year! My hat is off to all of you! You amaze me!”
—Dana Collinson, National Executive Director of the Lili Claire Foundation
- “Thank you to all the volunteers who worked side-by-side with members of other faiths to give back to the community.”
—Hebah Ferrag, who oversaw the Omar Ibn Al Khattab hub
- “What you do is incredible, not just one weekend a year, but all year round. I want you to know that Big Sunday touches and inspires me, as I am positive it touches and inspires so many others as well.”
—Anne Wake, teacher at View Point Charter School
- “We were able to fill to overflow our 15 passenger church van and other vehicles from floor to ceiling. Families Forward was astonished with the amount of food that was collected.”
—Ed Thomas, Christ Our Redeemer Church, whose volunteers helped in Orange County
- “We’re in for Big Sunday ’10! You were incredible! The day went great for us...amazing!”
—Kehillat Israel
