How to Track Summer Feeding Program Check-in with QR Codes

Create a Google Sheet with one row per child, household, pickup contact, route stop, or meal-service record. Add practical fields such as name, site, meal type, route, date, and notes. Keep the structure close to the records your staff already uses so the scanning workflow stays familiar.

Open QR Code Ticket for Google Sheets and generate one unique QR code for each row. Send codes by email when that fits your program, print cards for regular pickup contacts, or keep codes on a staff-controlled list for sites where families should not have to manage passes.

Before service starts, sync the list to each scanning device. Staff scan at the cafeteria line, park table, library desk, curbside pickup point, or mobile route stop. For weekly meal-pack distribution, keep one QR code per beneficiary and use Session-specific check-in (no repeat) in the Forms or Sheets add-on. Name sessions by week, such as Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3. Staff select the week before scanning, which lets each beneficiary check in once per week without needing a new registration or a new QR code. See the no-repeat session check-in docs for session setup. After service, review the Google Sheet for timestamps, duplicates, manual check-ins, and site totals before using the records in your internal process.