April 29 marks 'Big Sunday' for temples
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

Taking care of those in need is the focus of Big Sunday '07, an annual community-wide service day from 10 a.m.until 2 p.m. this Sun., April 29.

Thousands of volunteers from Los Angeles to the Conejo Valley will participate. Among the participating sites are Temple Beth Haverim in Agoura Hills and Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks.

Beth Haverim will accept donations of canned goods, eyeglasses, skateboards, bicycles, new athletic socks, and new or gently used children's books and stuffed animals. Items will be delivered to several charities associated with Big Sunday. The temple is at 29900 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills. Bins are set up in front of the temple office through May 6 for donations. Volunteers are needed to help sort donations and deliver them to recipient organizations.

Beth Haverim also is inviting volunteers to help create decorative flowerfilled pots to donated to senior citizens who are homebound or in care facilities. In addition, support is being sought for the Agoura Animal Shelter, which wants to build a room for people to interact with the animals they are interested in adopting.

Donations of gently used clothing, jewelry, small appliances and household items can be made Sunday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at Temple Etz Chaim, 10808 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

Gary Tysch, Temple Beth Haverim Social Action chair, hopes that Big Sunday sends an important message to local youth.

"We're living in an affluent community where we don't always see outside our own bubble," Tysch said.

For more information, call (818) 9917111 or (805) 4976891. To volunteer, sign up at www.bigsunday.org.