A message to volunteers about COVID-19
Dear valued volunteers,
The health and safety of our 826 Valencia community is very important to us, and as such we are taking steps to prevent the further spread of the cold, flu, and COVID-19 virus. Please read the following carefully so you can join us in keeping our students, yourselves, and our community safe!
Prevention Measures
We are following guidelines from the school district (SFUSD) and the Department of Public Health (DPH). As of today, March 9 2020, 826 Valencia remains open (with a few programming changes — see below) and our staff are taking the following steps:
- Ensuring all students and volunteers wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer when entering our space.
- Wiping down all tables with sanitary wipes in our three centers and Writers’ Rooms both before and after a session with students and volunteers.
- Maintaining a supply of soap and hand sanitizer in writing labs and bathrooms for students and volunteers to easily and regularly use.
- As always, staying home when feeling sick.
- As per SFUSD guidance, many teachers are cancelling their field trips to our centers through March 22. If you’re a regular Field Trip volunteer, we hope you’ll find another program to support in the interim — we need you! Please continue to check the volunteer calendar and your email for updates from 826 programs staff. Stay tuned to our website to keep apprised of any updated information about our next steps or potential closures.
Guidelines for 826 Valencia Volunteers
Please take the following steps to help us reduce the potential spread of this virus and to protect yourselves:
- Wash your hands both before and after your tutoring shift.
- Remind students to cover any cough or sneeze, and ask them to wash their hands after doing so.
- Use a fist bump instead of handshakes for greetings.
- In accordance with CDC recommendations, if you have returned from traveling to China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea since February 2020, we ask that you refrain from volunteering for at least 14 days while you monitor your health. More advice related to COVID-19 and travel is available on the CDC website.
- All volunteers should stay home when sick.
- Some groups are more likely to get very sick from this illness. Vulnerable groups include people 60 years of age or older and those with certain health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease and weakened immune systems. If this describes you, please do not risk exposure, even if you are feeling well. Stay home to best protect yourself.
If you need to cancel a volunteer shift you’ve signed up for, please contact the program lead or kavitha@826valencia.org ASAP. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any further questions you may have. Stay well, and stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Kavitha Lotun
Director of Volunteer Engagement
Contact Information:
Please reach out to the following programs staff about needing to cancel an upcoming shifts:
Tenderloin Programs (180 Golden Gate Ave)
Podcasting: Nana Boateng nana@826valencia.org
After School Workshops: Precediha Dangerfield precediha@826valencia.org
Monday In- Schools Program at Bessie Carmichael or Tenderloin Community Elementary Schools: Jillian Wasick jillian@826valencia.org
Mission Center (826 Valencia Street)
Storytelling and Bookmaking or Choose Your Own Adventure Field Trips: Lucie Pereira lucie@826valencia.org
After School Tutoring / Evening Tutoring / Workshops: Angelina Brand angelina@826valencia.org
Mission Bay Center (1300 4th Street)
After-School Tutoring: Nesley Rojo nesley@826valencia.org
In- Schools Programs at Starr King, Bret Harte and Malcolm X Elementary Schools: Shelby Urbina shelby@826valencia.org
Buena Vista Horace Mann (3351 23rd St)
In- Schools and After School Tutoring: Ashley Smith ashley@826valencia.org
In Schools Programs at various locations (Mission High, Everett Middle, Downtown High. SF International High, and more): Ryan Young ryan@826valencia.org