After four days of strike action, the San Francisco Unified School District and the United Educators of San Francisco reached a tentative agreement early Friday morning. While schools remain closed Friday, many families continue to rely on meal distribution and community support programs.

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Below is a guide to free meals, child care and daytime programs. 

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Where can students get free meals?

San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) is providing to-go meals to SFUSD students ages 18 and under at locations across the city. Meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and each site has a limited supply. To receive a meal, children or their guardian must provide the student’s name, grade and school are available here. 

The Latino Task Force (LTF) will provide lunch and breakfast for SFUSD students who rely on district-provided meals at two locations:

  • Mission Food Hub | 701 Alabama Street
  • Casa de Apoyo | 4834 Mission Street. 

To get meals, children or their caregiver need to provide their name, grade and school. Caregivers are allowed a maximum of three to four grab–and-go meals. 

Breakfast will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at both sites. Meal distribution is set to continue if the strike goes on for more days, said Efrain Barrera, LTF interim executive director. 

Some businesses in the Mission District are also offering free food during the closures, including La Taqueria and El Yucatan.

Are child care options available?

Children under 5 who are enrolled in SFUSD Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programs or preschool may be eligible for temporary childcare through San Francisco’s Department of Early Childhood (DEC).

Parents can request referrals Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through:

  • Children’s Council at 445 Church Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
  • Wu Yee Children’s Services at 888 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Are there places children can go during the school day?

The district is partnering with community and faith-based organizations to offer daytime activities and supervision for SFUSD students during regular school hours. Because space is limited, parents should contact organizations directly about availability.

  • Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation | 225 Eddy Street
    • Open to elementary through high school students, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
    • Offering both general programs and specialized enrichment
  • Youth Art Exchange | 1950 Mission Street and 400 Geneva Ave
    • Open to elementary through high school students, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
    • Offering arts-based specialized enrichment programs
  • Ingleside Community Center | 1345 Ocean Avenue
    • Open to pre-K through elementary students, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
    • Offers general programs and enrichment programs, as well as free lunch. 

The full list of programs is available here.

What about after-school programs? 

SFUSD has said that students enrolled in ExCEL after-school programs, including homework support and meals, may attend programs at other locations during the strike-related closures.

Due to staffing limits, space is limited. Priority will be given to students who qualify for food assistance, are unhoused or are English learners.

SFUSD has compiled a list of off-site locations in a Google Doc, including contact information and program websites. Students may attend any listed location.

Are there any activities I can do with my child?

Across the city, some museums are offering free or discounted tickets so that parents can guide their children through educational activities. These include:

  • The Exploratorium  |  Pier 15 Embarcadero at Green Street
    • Offers free admission for children under 17 and $5 off from Tuesday to Friday.
    • Families need to let the ticketing office know that they’re visiting due to the SFUSD strike.
  • The de Young museum: |  50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
    • Offers free admission for children under 17 and free admission for an accompanying parent or guardian during the strike, from Tuesday to Friday.
  • Asian Art Museum | 200 Larkin St
    • Offers free admission for children 18 or younger, and free general admission for accompanying adult guardians.
    • Open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Are there additional housing or financial resources?

For families facing housing instability or financial hardship, Mission-based organizations offer ongoing support services.

Mission Action provides assistance through its Family Resource Center (FRC), which serves San Francisco families with children under 18. Services may include:

  • Rental and back rent assistance
  • Move-in support (deposit/first month)
  • Utility stabilization (PG&E/gas), evaluated case by case
  • Financial stabilization planning

2301 Mission St., Suite #102
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
(628) 333-4063

Families can call or visit to learn about eligibility. Mission Action also operates the Stay Over Program, which provides overnight shelter for families experiencing homelessness.

What is happening with the strike?

The tentative agreement reached early Friday morning must still be approved by union members and the Board of Education.

Schools will remain closed Friday as a transition day. Educators are expected to return to campuses to prepare for reopening. Students are scheduled to return to classrooms Wednesday, Feb. 18, following the President’s Day and Lunar New Year holiday break.

Mariana is a bilingual reporter for El Tecolote through UC Berkeley's California Local News Fellowship. Her work has also been featured in the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian and KQED.