SPRINGFIELD – Many families throughout the Pioneer Valley rely on The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to provide their children with nutritious food. Now, through a partnership with the non-profit Link to Libraries, children can expand their reading and imaginations at the same time.

“Feed the Body – Feed the Mind” is a campaign that the two organizations have launched with help from the Northampton and Springfield Rocks Radio Groups. Children’s books are distributed along with meals at select pick-up sites in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties.

Link to Libraries’s mission is to “distribute new books to the school and home libraries of children in need.” The organization runs several programs including distribution to homeless children, volunteer and celebrity reader programs in schools, and school-business partnerships that provide a long-term source of books for the school.

“During these uncertain times, Link to Libraries has remained committed to ensuring that underserved children throughout Western Massachusetts have the books they need to continue learning,” Laurie Flynn, president and chief executive officer of Link to Libraries said in a press release. “That’s meant we’ve had to get creative and find new ways to distribute books while schools remain closed. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with these wonderful organizations to feed the bodies and minds of those in need in our community.”

Christina Maxwell, director of programs for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts added, “The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is delighted to be partnering with Link to Libraries and the Northampton Radio Group and Springfield Rocks Radio Group to be able to provide books to kids. Young people are facing many challenges right now, including both food insecurity and a very unusual school year. It is also giving us an opportunity to remind everyone how important it is to complete the census by the end of September. The results of the census have a major impact on funding for schools, libraries, and nutrition resources.”

So far, the program has been successful. “We’ve gotten a lot of very positive feedback about what a nice and much appreciated surprise it was to be able to bring books home along with meals for their children,” said Flynn. She said hundreds of families have turned out at pick-up sites in Easthampton, Greenfield and Springfield.

The last of the meals and books pick-up events will be on Sept. 19 at Gethsemane Church of Jesus Christ, 47 Harvey St., Springfield.

“I would love to be able to continue this program,” Flynn told Reminder Publishing. “Unfortunately, I do not have specific funding to do so. I’ve been using books we already have in the warehouse, but if we receive enough donations, that would go a long way towards ensuring that we can [continue the program]. People can donate through our website, www.linktolibraries.org/donate.”

To donate to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, visit www.foodbankwma.org/donate/donate-now.