Login FAQ

This FAQ section covers the basics of logging into Link2Feed as well as information regarding announcements. 

This article covers the following topics: 

• How do I log in? (First-time login, two-fac auth code) 
• What are my password requirements?
• What if I forgot my password?
• What is a Portal Announcement?
• What is a CSRF token?
• Automatic Timeout
• How do I clear my browser cache 
• How do I clear autofill information?

How do I log in?

Link2Feed is only compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari internet browsers. To download Google Chrome, click here. To download Mozilla Firefox, click here. For more information on hardware and software requirements, click here. Link2Feed is NOT compatible with Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge. DO NOT use either of those web browsers to log into Link2Feed.

Follow the below steps to successfully log in to your Link2Feed account:

1. Go to the URL that applies to your organization below by typing it into your internet browser's address bar.
2. Canadian Case MGMT users accounts.link2feed.ca.
3. US Case MGMT users accounts.link2feed.com. 
4. CACFP & SFSP users childrens.link2feed.com.
5. You will see a login page displayed on your screen.
6. Enter your email address and password provided by your organization in the relevant spaces.
7. Click on the Login button to proceed.
8. Select the Organization from the drop-down list.

If you click on the eye icon on the right of the password field, you can catch a glimpse of the characters you’ve typed.

If you are a user that is part of a network that manages one or more agencies, you will be prompted to select the organization you are logging in to. Networks do not have access to personal client files, but if a manager happens to be at another agency, they can log in at that agency and access client files at that time.

Attached at the bottom of this guide, you will find PDF documents, one walks through the steps to login and record a first-time visit for Case Management, and the other covers logging in for the first time. These one-pagers may be helpful for intake workers to have on hand. 

If it is your first time logging in: 

1. Follow the steps above to log into your Link2Feed portal.
2. You will then be asked to change your password. For password requirements please go here. 
3. Enter that same password again in the Current password text box.
4. Type in your new password in the New password text box.
5. Re-type your new password in the Confirm new password text box.
6. Click Change password to save your changes. 

After logging in, you will be prompted to agree to a disclaimer. Check off the check box and click on the Agree button.

Shared Accounts: The End User Software License Agreement includes a clause that states "This license is personal to you, and it may not be transferred, assigned or sub-licensed."  Each user in the system needs to agree to their own End User Software License Agreement. For this reason, each unique user should have their own login credentials.  In the case where a new manager begins working at a food bank, that manager should have their own profile and have updated permissions, rather than using the profile from the previous manager.

How do I log in with my two-fac auth code?

Definition: Short for Two-factor authentication code. Adding this code will require all users to type in a secondary password each time they log in from a new device to prevent users from accessing the system outside of permitted locations. Typically, Agency Manager(s) set and are the only ones to know the two-factor code.

If your organization has a two-fac auth code enabled, after entering your Link2Feed password to log in, you will be prompted to enter an Agency password. This is the two-factor authentication code. This has to be entered by the Agency Manager or Network Administrator who created this code. Once entered, this code will mark the device as a trusted device by storing a cookie on the device. If cookies are cleared, the Agency Manager or Network Administrator will need to re-enter the two-fac auth code. The user can get authorization at the pantry/food bank, but if they try logging in from an untrusted device, they will be prompted again to enter the two-fac auth code. 

Two-Factor authentication will only turn on for users assigned to only one organization. For example, if a user is assigned to two different agencies, and each agency has an Auth Code, the user will not be asked for the Auth Code at either organization.

For additional context, the use-case of our two-factor system is NOT standard, such as a system that requires each person to have their own second-factor authenticators like Google or Microsoft Authentication for example.
It is a two-factor system where an agency can prevent its users from accessing the system unless they are accessing from a known & trusted computer. The computer is trusted by inputting the Agency Password to establish the physical device as the second factor.

What are my password requirements?

Your password must include: 

• at least 8 characters
• both upper and lowercase letters
• at least one number
• at least one special character 
• no spaces 

The better the phrase the stronger the password is: 

• "houseflies" is weak 
• "Hou$seFlies" is stronger 
• "Hou$eFlies396" is very strong

Good Passwords: Ideally you want a password that is easy for you to remember but hard for anyone else to figure out. A short, personal sentence that includes a number and punctuation is a good example of a strong password.

Passwords need to be reset every 6 months, this is not a setting that can be disabled and is required with Link2Feed.

What if I forgot my password

If you've entered your password incorrectly three consecutive times, you will be locked out of the system. The unlock process will include sending you a password reset email. The system will also unlock your account after an hour and allow you to try entering your password again. 

Follow these steps to reset your password in the event you forgot yours: 

1. Below the login click on the button that says I Forgot My Password.
2. You will be prompted to enter your email address to request that password be reset and sent to you. 
3. Click on the Make Request button. An email will then be sent to you. 
4. This email will provide you with a link to follow that will allow you to reset your password and log in. You will have six hours to click the link in the email. 

Junk/Spam: If you can't find the email in your main inbox, make sure to also check your spam and junk folders.

Access to Email Account: The request needs to be linked to an email account that exists in the system, and will be sent to that email address. If it is sent to an email account that you do not have access to or to an account that does not normally receive an email (ie "[e-mail]") you will not be able to access the request email. In this case please contact your manager.

What is a Portal Announcement? 

A Portal Announcement is an internal message sent to all users by Link2Feed Support. You CANNOT reply to Link2Feed's Portal Announcement. It's a one-way message from Link2Feed to users.

The announcement can include, but is not limited to:

• Downtime for maintenance
• Webinar schedules
• Version Rollouts
• Priorities

The Portal Announcement can be one of four priorities:

• Urgent
• High
• Normal
• Low

If the Portal Announcement is urgent, it will appear as a red banner at the top of the page. 

After clicking on a Portal Announcement to view it, it will no longer appear on your page as a notification. To review the message, you can always click on the megaphone in the top right corner to read the message again. 

Portal Announcements can only be removed by Link2Feed. 

When an urgent Portal Announcement is sent through Link2Feed, if the recipient is an active Network Administrator or Network Manager, an email is sent to that email address of that Portal Announcement. 

They are usually available for reading from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the reason for its posting. 

What is a CSRF token? 

If you leave the Link2Feed login page open on your computer for a certain period of time, you may notice that you have to log in twice. The first error says CSRF Token.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is caused by any page being left idle too long before someone tries to log in. Idle means there is not an action completed within the system (for example, pressing save on one of the client profile pages, or pressing Log In on the login page).

It's a security measure Link2Feed has put in place to prevent other sites from trying to gain access to our server.

By logging in twice, you're telling the system that this isn't a malicious attempt to access the system while the page is left open. The second login is confirmation that this isn't just a passing attempt; you are a legitimate user trying to access the system.

Automatic Timeout

When you are inactive in the system for 20 minutes you will receive a pop-up notification that you have been timed out. 

If you press I'm Still Here the counter will reset. 

Multiple Tabs This applies to all tabs/browser windows you have open, not just the one you are actively working in. If you are inactive in any one tab for 20 minutes, the notification will appear in THAT tab. If it times out, you will be logged out of all tabs.

How do I clear my browser cache? 

Your browser tends to hold onto information, and over time it could cause problems with logging in or bringing up websites. It can cause the following issues:

• You may get an error.
• You may notice that you keep getting redirected to the page to select an organization.
• You may realize nothing happens when you click on Client Intake.

It's always a good idea to clear out the cache, or browser history, and clear cookies on a regular basis. If you use more than one browser on a single device, clearing out the cache, browser history, and cookies on all browsers will help across browsers.

Clearing from Google Chrome

See the link here for instructions on how to clear your browser cache in Google Chrome from your device.

Clearing from Mozilla Firefox

See the link here for instructions on how to clear your browser cache in Mozilla Firefox from your device.

Clearing from Apple Safari

See the link here for instructions on how to clear your browser cache in Safari from your device. Remember to make sure that Passwords and Autofill form data are also checked off.

How do I clear autofill information 

What is Autofill?

Autofill is a function in some computer applications or programs, typically those containing forms, which fill in a field automatically.

If the system has a remembered email address and/or password on the login page, it's useful to clear your browser cache to remove that information, ESPECIALLY if you share a computer with another user.

Clearing from Google Chrome

See the link here for instructions on how to turn off or clear autofill in Google Chrome from your device. Remember to make sure that Passwords and Autofill form data are also checked off.

Clearing from Mozilla Firefox

See the link here for instructions on how to turn off or clear autofill in Mozilla Firefox from your device.

Clearing from Apple Safari

See the link here for instructions on how to turn off or clear autofill in Safari from your device. Remember to make sure that Passwords and Autofill form data are also checked off.