1. Installing the App
CheckIn is a Progressive Web App (PWA) — you can install it directly from your browser without going through an app store. Follow the steps for your device below.
iOS (iPhone / iPad)
- Open the CheckIn URL in Safari.
- Tap the Share button (the box with an arrow pointing up) at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll down in the share sheet and tap Add to Home Screen.
- Confirm the name and tap Add in the top-right corner.
- The CheckIn icon will appear on your home screen and launch like a native app.
Android
- Open the CheckIn URL in Chrome.
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of Chrome.
- Tap Add to Home screen.
- Confirm the name and tap Add.
- The CheckIn icon will appear on your home screen and launch like a native app.
2. Login
All volunteers share a single password for the event. You will receive the password from your event coordinator.
- Open the CheckIn application in your browser or on your device.
- Enter the shared password provided by your coordinator.
- Tap Sign In.
- You will be taken directly to the Event Setup screen.
3. Event Setup
Before you can access the check-in dashboard you must complete a short setup step. This ties your check-ins to the correct location and records your name as the registrar.
- Enter your full name in the Registrar Name field. This is recorded with every check-in you perform. The app will remember your name for the next time you use it.
- Select the event location from the dropdown. Only active locations (within their start/end date range) appear in the list.
- Tap Continue to go to the main dashboard.
4. Main Dashboard
The dashboard is your home base during an event. It shows real-time statistics and provides access to all major actions.
42
Families Checked In today
67
Meals Distributed today
From the dashboard you can:
- → Check In a Client — search for an existing registered client and check them in.
- → Register New Client — add a brand-new family and issue them a card.
- → Has a Card From Another Pantry — check in a client who holds a card from a different food pantry.
- → Edit Client — find and update a client's information.
5. Checking In a Client
Use this flow when a returning client arrives at the event with their existing card.
Search for the client
On the main dashboard tap Check In a Client. Enter any combination of card number, first name, and/or last name. Partial matches work — searching the first 2–3 characters of a name often returns better results than the full name. Tap Search.
Select the correct client
Results appear in pages of 10. Find the client and tap their row to open the confirmation screen.
Confirm the client details
Verify the name, address, family size, and card number match the physical card. Tap Correct Client to complete the check-in.
Record the PostIt number
A success modal shows the client's name, card number, and their PostIt Number (food units). Write that number on a sticky note and give it to the client so they can collect the correct amount of food.
Tap "Awesome" to finish
The modal closes and the dashboard statistics update automatically.
6. Registering a New Client
Use this flow when a family is visiting for the first time and has no existing card.
Open the registration form
Tap Register New Client on the dashboard.
Enter client information
Required: Full name, family size, and zip code.
Optional: Street address, unit, city, state, and a manual card number (leave blank to auto-assign).
Name is parsed automatically — "John Michael Smith" becomes First: "John", Last: "Michael Smith".
Proceed to the Qualification Wizard
After all required fields pass validation you are taken to the 3-step Qualification Wizard. See Section 7 for details.
Card is created and client is checked in
After qualification a card is automatically created and the client is checked in. The success modal shows the card number and PostIt number. Write the card number on a physical card and hand it to the client.
7. Qualification Wizard
The wizard determines eligibility through up to three steps. The system stops at the first step where the client qualifies.
1 Program Enrollment
Ask: "Are you currently enrolled in any of these programs?"
- • SNAP (Food Stamps)
- • SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- • TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- • NSLP (National School Lunch Program)
- • Medicaid
If the client selects any program → qualified. Card expires in 12 months. Wizard jumps to Card Details.
If "None of the above" → proceed to Step 2.
2 Income Verification
Ask for the household's gross income. Select the time period and enter the amount.
Time period options: Yearly, Monthly, Twice Monthly, Bi-Weekly, Weekly
The system checks the amount against current H1640 SNAP thresholds (updated annually on July 1st). Families larger than 8 use the 8-person threshold.
If income ≤ threshold → qualified. Card expires in 12 months. Jump to Card Details.
If income exceeds threshold → proceed to Step 3.
3 Crisis Justification
If the client does not qualify via program or income, describe the crisis situation in the text field. This field cannot be left blank.
Crisis-justified cards expire in 6 months (shorter than the standard 12 months).
8. Expired Cards
When a client's card has passed its expiration date the system automatically routes you through a requalification flow to issue them a new card.
Search finds an expired card
The search result will show the card is expired. The only action available will be View and Check In. Tap it.
Expired Card screen
The system shows the card details and expiration date. Tap OK to begin requalification.
Registration form with prefilled data
The New Client form opens with the client's name, address, and family size already filled in. Verify or update the information, then proceed through the Qualification Wizard as normal.
New card is issued
After qualification, a new card is created. The old card is automatically invalidated. Write the new card number on a fresh physical card and hand it to the client. Keep the old card — do not return it to the client, as it could cause confusion at future events.
9. Other Pantry Cards
Clients who hold cards from other food pantry organizations can be checked in using the Other Pantry flow.
Tap "Has a Card From Another Pantry"
From the dashboard, tap this button to open the Other Pantry search.
Search for the client first
The client may have attended a previous Mobile Market event. Search by name or by the MM number written on their card. If found, simply check them in.
If not found — Quick Registration
Tap Register New (Other Pantry) and fill in: client name, their card number, the issuing organization name, the card expiration date, and family size. Address is optional.
Write the MM number on their card
After saving, the system assigns an MM-nnnnn number. Write it on the client's physical card (e.g., MM-00542). At future events, volunteers can find this client by searching that number through the Other Pantry flow.
10. Editing a Client
Use the Edit Client feature to correct mistakes in a client's record — name, address, family size, or card number.
- Tap Edit Client on the main dashboard.
- Search for the client by name or card number.
- Select the client from the results to view their current information.
- Make your corrections and tap Save.
- The record is updated in the database and you are returned to the previous screen.
Edit Client can also be reached from the check-in confirmation screen if you notice an error just before confirming a check-in. After saving the edit you can complete the check-in with the updated information.