What are the opening hours?

Monday 12pm - 6pm Tuesday 12pm - 6pm Wednesday 12pm - 6pm Thursday 12pm - 6pm Friday 12pm - 6pm Saturday 12pm - 6pm Sunday 12pm - 6pm

826 Valencia

All of our programs are offered free of charge to students, schools, and families. Right. Like peg legs. Like dental floss for ogres.

826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization in San Francisco dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages 6 to 18 with their writing skills, helping teachers get their students excited about writing, and cultivating wonder. 826 Valencia is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages six to eighteen with their writing skills, and to helpi

ng teachers get their students excited about writing. Our work is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can be made when trained and caring volunteers work one-on-one with students and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

826 Valencia comprises two writing centers—our flagship location in the Mission District and a new center in the Tenderloin neighborhood—and three satellite classrooms at nearby schools. We also have a Pirate Supply Store at our location on Valencia St., offering wares for the working buccaneer. And at our Tenderloin Center you can visit King Carl's Emporium, with its selection of supplies curated by explorers of worlds both real and imaginary. Both stores also sell our publications of our students' writing, and the proceeds from the store go straight to our free programs. Check out 826valencia.org if you're interested in volunteering, donating, or participating in our programs!

08/21/2026

Happy Poet’s Day! 🥳 ✍️ Join us in celebrating the young poets who are boldly sharing their voices with the world. Our student Claribel C. A., age 16, reflected on the importance of taking a moment to care for your mind in her poem “Take a Moment,” featured in the San Francisco Youth Poet Laureate anthology “I Can Feel You Across the Seas.”

🌉 Do you know a young person who'd like to be the next San Francisco Youth Poet Laureate? The application deadline for this year’s cohort is approaching on August 28. Find more info here: https://bit.ly/4zw0q6d
Alt text: Poster displaying 826 Valencia student writing with an excerpt from “Take a Moment,” by student Claribel C. A., age 16. A line from the excerpt reads: Stop for a moment. / This space that is your mind is quality. / You should charge a high price for anyone who wants to live there.

08/18/2026

It’s almost fall, which means it’s time to sign up for our Personal Statement Workshops! 🍂 📝 From October 16 to November 20, we’ll be offering six free workshops at our Mission Center to support SFUSD high school seniors as they draft, revise, edit, and submit their college application essays and responses. Learn more about registering as a student or signing up to support as a volunteer tutor: https://bit.ly/4zrdmdA

📸: Yanit Mehta
Alt text: Images of 826 Valencia students and tutors working together at the 826 Valencia Personal Statement Workshops.

08/10/2026

In “World Cup,” 826 Valencia student Angelina, age 11, shares the exciting experience of attending a FIFA World Cup match at Levi’s Stadium—from walking onto the field alongside a player to answering questions on TV the next day! 🎤 ✨ Listen to more soccer-inspired student podcast episodes on 826 Valencia’s SoundCloud page: https://bit.ly/4ijZOHL.

Thank you to Street Soccer USA for giving our students the opportunity to attend a World Cup game! ⚽️ And to the Bay Area Host Committee for creating lasting community and youth impact through these major sporting events.
Alt text: “Message in a Bottle” poster displaying the title of the student podcast, “World Cup,” with the student’s name and age, “Angelina L.R., age 11.”

08/07/2026

Last month, we had the honor of being invited as a charitable partner to Monkeybrains's Third Thursdays on Treat event, in collaboration with Claro SF. We had activities and books for the kids, and got to speak with many wonderful humans who were interested in learning more about 826 Valencia. We’re so thankful for community partners like these, who bring people together and strengthen the communities we all care about. 🧡 🎊
Alt text: Image of 826 Valencia volunteers tabling at an outdoor booth with books and craft supplies, assisting two young children using markers.

08/04/2026

Calling all Youth Volunteer tutors! 📞 Every semester, we onboard a limited number of high school juniors and seniors as Youth Volunteers who make a commitment to support one of our after-school programs for a full semester on a weekly basis. Applications will be open until all spots are filled. Apply here: https://bit.ly/3SfEc7H
Alt text: Promo poster for the 826 Valencia Youth Volunteer application, reads “We Are Seeking Youth Volunteers.”

07/31/2026

Our student Rehan Mefta, age 18, was recently commissioned to write and perform an original poem for Spark SF Public Schools' annual event, aligned with the Superintendent’s 21st Century Scholarship Award Ceremony. 🎤 Her piece reflects on how education breaks barriers. Spark recently interviewed Rehan about her writing journey. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4xjv2Gl
Alt text: A “Get to Know” poster for Rehan Mefta with an image of her performance. An excerpt from Rehan’s poem reads, “We carry more than books in our hands, / we carry resilience / and curiosity shaping our dreams.” The poster indicates that Rehan is an SFUSD Student Poet and 826 Valencia Youth Leader.

07/29/2026

Hoist the sails and chart a course for We Want You Back: Trivia Night! 🏆 If you’re a past, present, or future 826 Valencia volunteer, this buoyant hour of community and trivia is for you. Come reconnect, meet fellow volunteers, and show off your trivia skills. You can expect prizes, light snacks, and drinks (and you’re welcome to bring your own beverage). 🥤 This event will take place during Valencia Live! on Thursday, August 13, from 6 to 7 pm. 🏴‍☠️ Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4wiQLxW
Alt text: Promotional image for We Want You Back: Trivia Night! Featuring the captioned details plus the event location’s address: 826 Valencia St., San Francisco.

07/24/2026

☀️ Recently, our Mission Bay elementary summer camp students visited Oracle Park to enjoy an SF Giants game while learning how to keep a scorecard. ⚾️ 📝 Students also went on a pre-game tour and interviewed SF Giants staff members about how they use writing in their jobs. To cap off the day, the whole group wrote a collective poem about their experience! ✍️ Thank you to our community partners at SF Giants for supporting summer learning and storytelling for our young authors. 💡 Learn about volunteering opportunities and other ways to get involved at 826 Valencia: https://bit.ly/4gRPA0N

🔥👕 Special thanks to Babylon Burning for making special T-shirts that our students wore during this field trip!
Alt text: Images of 826 Valencia students at Oracle Park, listening to a talk, writing, and watching the game.

07/23/2026

Our students know that pursuing their goals takes work, persistence, and the courage to keep going after setbacks. This is why Zi’Anna J., age 9, chose not to give up after a difficult soccer game left her feeling discouraged. ⚽️ She attended a Bay FC soccer game through the Street Soccer SF program, and then wrote about it at our Tenderloin Podcasting Field Trip! Listen to the full story in this recent podcast episode. ✨ 🎤 And check out more student work here: https://bit.ly/4ijZOHL
Alt text: “Message in a Bottle” poster displaying the title of the student podcast, “The First Time Zi’Anna Meets Famous Soccer Player.”

07/19/2026

Ahoy, book lovers! 🏴‍☠️ 📚 Welcome to another summery installment of our Book of the Month series. This publication from our Buena Vista Horace Mann students (grades 3–5) features heartfelt, imaginative stories that explore the supernatural & mysterious, the mystical & magical, and barrels of creative takes on Bay Area Rapid Transit.

Here are some of the salty titles you’ll find in After 6–7 Years, We Went Outside and Touched Grass:

😤 I Don’t Like Jobs
🍟 Dora and Caillou’s Death Trip to McDonald’s
🚉 ⛱️ El BART va a tener piscina y playa en todas las estaciones (BART Will Have Swimming Pools and Beaches at All of Its Stations)
🌀 Infinity Maze

Get your copy here: https://bit.ly/4hmgBfD

🖌️ Book cover illustration by Tony Manalo
🎨 Layout design by Amanda Boesen
Alt text: Image of the After 6–7 Years, We Went Outside and Touched Grass book cover and a student excerpt that includes the line: “Okay class, settle down!” said Ms. Emily, clapping her hands for attention in her rose-pink dress. “We will be presenting our summer summaries now.”

Address

826 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA
94110

Opening Hours

Monday	12pm - 6pm
Tuesday	12pm - 6pm
Wednesday	12pm - 6pm
Thursday	12pm - 6pm
Friday	12pm - 6pm
Saturday	12pm - 6pm
Sunday	12pm - 6pm

Telephone

+14156425905

Website

http://826valencia.org/

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