Volunteers sorted clothing that was donated to people in need during Big Sunday’s annual MLK Day of Service event in Hollywood. (photo by Edwin Folven)

A small army of people sorted clothing for donation to numerous community organizations on Jan. 20 during Big Sunday’s eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Clothing Drive.

The event was one of many days of service Big Sunday holds throughout the year to help those in need. The clothing was donated to Big Sunday over the past months, and volunteers sorted the apparel and placed it in bags to be picked up by community service organizations. Breakfast was served and a band played as volunteers sorted a large pile of clothing laid out on a tarp along Seward Street, adjacent to Big Sunday’s headquarters at 6111 Melrose Ave.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Big Sunday founder and executive director David Levinson. “It’s a wonderful way to honor Dr. King’s legacy. It’s all new and gently used clothing. People have been coming by for weeks with the clothing, and we have people from all walks of life here donating their time.”

Big Sunday specializes in connecting volunteers and service organizations with those in need. Founded by Levinson in 1999 as a single day of service at Temple Israel of Hollywood, the organization has grown exponentially and currently holds hundreds of projects and offers many other ways to help throughout the year.

 “We are in very fraught times, but at Big Sunday, we keep finding that most people of all ages, from all walks of life, and yes, different political bents, want to work together to make our world a nicer place and celebrate what we share,” Levinson added.

That sentiment was echoed by many volunteers who participated in the MLK Day clothing drive.

“I just thought it would be a great thing to get involved with,” said Jason Fowler, a Hollywood resident who volunteered at his first Big Sunday event. “I heard about all the good things they are doing and wanted to help.”

“This is my seventh event with Big Sunday,” added Tom Benko, a Hollywood resident who helped sort clothing. “I think they do good things. This is desperately needed in these times. People need to get involved and we need to show by actions, not words.”

The event also attracted volunteers from areas around Los Angeles. Aloria Magee, of the nonprofit West Hills-based Young Ambassadors Leadership Academy, brought a group of 25 children and their families to the event.

“This is a community service activity and they all brought clothing to help,” Magee said. “Our nonprofit supports African-American boys ages 6 to 16 and provides leadership opportunities. It’s a day of service to help other people in the community, and we came to help.”

Matt Lowerre, a Boston resident who arrived in Los Angeles on Jan. 17 to begin a semester at Emerson College’s Hollywood campus, said he heard about the day of service during a school orientation and wanted to participate.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to do something good, learn about the community and meet new people,” Lowerre said. “It’s a good opportunity to be more involved and to give back.”

Levinson encouraged people to get involved with upcoming projects and asked them to visit bigsunday.org for opportunities. Every Monday at 2 p.m. and every Thursday at 10 a.m., Big Sunday holds a hands-on service project at its headquarters benefiting different nonprofits. Projects include assembling meals packages for low-income families and putting together hygiene kits for homeless service providers. There are also larger monthly events serving people in need throughout Los Angeles County. One of the largest event each year is a Thanksgiving food drive in which volunteers sort canned and boxed foods that are donated to people for holiday dinners.

“There are so many ways to help,” Levinson added. “We all have something to give, and we are all in it together.