Foodbank Helper

Admins can now define a "bundle" — a named collection of items that always go together — and assign it a barcode. Scan that barcode at the checkout station and every item in the bundle is instantly added to the client's cart in one scan.

• check_circleFast Checkout: One barcode scan populates the entire bundle. Requires the new Cart V2 interface.
• check_circlePerfect For: Holiday hampers, baby boxes, diabetic packs, or any standard package your organization regularly puts together.
• check_circleLive Point Math: As you build a bundle in the admin panel, the total point value updates in real time before you save.
• check_circleFull CRUD: Create, edit, and delete bundles at any time through the new Bundle Manager in the admin panel.

Bundle Manager — building a "Holiday Hamper" with live point totals as items are added.

The inventory system has evolved into a full management platform. A new dedicated dashboard surfaces everything that matters at a glance, and every quantity change is now fully traceable.

• check_circleKPI Summary Cards: Total tracked items, current low-stock items, and items nearing expiration — all on one screen.
• check_circleLow Stock Table: Every item below its custom reorder threshold is surfaced automatically — nothing quietly runs out.
• check_circleWaste Diversion Chart: Track how much food was redirected out of the building over time — useful for grant reporting.

Inventory Dashboard — KPI cards, low stock alerts, expiring items, and waste diversion at a glance.

Every change to inventory quantities is now fully traceable. The audit log inside Inventory Management shows a chronological record of every transaction — scans, transfers, donations, and orders. When a transaction was caused by a client order, the log entry links directly to that order.

• check_circleBarcode Scanning: Use your scanner during Donation Intake and Physical Stock Counts to quickly look up and log items — no manual typing.
• check_circlePer-Line-Item Weights: Each donation line item can now carry its own weight figure for more granular reporting data.

Inventory Audit Log — every transaction recorded with type, quantity change, and a direct link to the originating order.

Foodbank Helper now supports connecting a physical weight scale directly to your donation workflow. Our custom hardware hub sits next to your scale and pushes live weight readings to any tablet or computer on your network.

• check_circleHardware installs once and connects to your scale via USB or serial port.
• check_circleWeight fields auto-populate in real time as items are placed on the scale — no manual entry.
• check_circleNo computer needs to be physically beside the scale, keeping your intake area clean and flexible.

A brand-new module for recording food that leaves your building without going to a client — to partner agencies, composting programs, or food rescue organizations.

• check_circleDefine named Outbound Destinations (partner agencies, composting, rescue programs, or anyone you regularly transfer surplus food to).
• check_circleRecord transfers by item and quantity. Includes an extra weight field for bulk items like liquids or packaging that don't map to item counts.
• check_circleAll transfer data integrates with the Advanced Reports builder, with new components for food-flow breakdowns and outbound diversion rate metrics.

Staff can now recreate a past client order in seconds — great for packing lists, standard fulfillment, and recurring orders.

• check_circleClick Reorder on any past order in a client's history to pre-populate a new cart with the same items and quantities.
• check_circleReorder carts appear on packing list screens so staff can prepare them — clients cannot self-checkout from these carts.
• check_circleCarts display clear Repeat and Staff Reorder labels so volunteers always know the origin of the order.
• check_circleControlled by a new Reorder Previous Order permission — scope this capability to the right staff roles.

The Stats section received its biggest update ever — entirely rebuilt charts, new tracking views, and new data your team has been asking for.

• check_circleInteractive Charts Rebuilt: Every chart is smoother, faster, and responsive across all screen sizes. Hover over any data point for precise values.
• check_circleWeight Distribution: New views track how much food (by weight) leaves your facility over time — daily, monthly, and long-term trends.
• check_circleMeals Equivalent Tracking: Configure a "pounds per meal" value once (e.g. 1.2 lbs = 1 meal) and the system automatically translates distributed weight into estimated meals provided.
• check_circleVolunteer Stats Page: Trend charts of total volunteer hours, top volunteer rankings, and a monthly new-vs-returning breakdown.
• check_circleFamily & Item KPIs: At-a-glance cards showing total families served, families approaching limits, and families who have exceeded their limits.

Weight Stats — new KPI row including Meals Equivalent, and a rebuilt trend chart comparing food distributed vs. donations received.

Foodbank Helper now delivers real-time alerts directly to phones, tablets, and desktops — even when the browser isn't open. Staff subscribe to exactly the alerts they need.

• check_circleLow Stock Alerts: Get notified the moment an item drops below its reorder threshold.
• check_circleUnfilled Shift Digest: A scheduled check identifies upcoming shifts without enough volunteers and notifies coordinators in advance.
• check_circleReal-Time Shift Alerts: Instant notifications when volunteers sign up for or cancel a shift.
• check_circleSmart Kiosk Detection: Shared checkout and lobby devices are automatically excluded from push notification registration — staff alerts stay with staff.
• check_circlePersonal Preferences: Each volunteer manages their own notification categories. A nav badge prompts users who haven't set theirs yet.

Alerts management — configure subscriptions per alert type, with delivery via In-App notification or Email.

The volunteer shift management tools in the admin panel received significant updates, making scheduling faster and catching problems earlier.

• check_circleRedesigned Calendar: See which volunteers are signed up for each shift directly from the calendar — no extra clicks to open each shift.
• check_circleOverlap Prevention: The system now blocks volunteers from being signed up for two shifts that overlap in time, with a clear conflict message.
• check_circleCapacity Alerts: Clear warnings when a shift has more volunteers than its capacity allows.
• check_circleSmarter Repeat Editing: When editing a repeating shift, choose whether your changes apply to just this occurrence or all future instances.

Redesigned shift calendar — volunteer names visible per shift without opening each one. Capacity and overflow visible at a glance.

The underlying application framework and several supporting libraries were updated to their latest versions, bringing performance improvements and keeping Foodbank Helper on a solid long-term foundation. Various reliability fixes were also shipped across the cart, shift scheduling, statistics, and donations modules.