Local Food and Assistance Programs

Community food resources that are available to assist households in and around Springfield.

This page compiles food resources and information that will be most useful for Springfield residents. For statewide resources, the Commonwealth is maintaining a page at Mass.gov/SNAPFreeze.

Springfield food programs

This document lists food banks, pantries, and meal programs in Springfield, with their location, phone number, and schedule. Printed copies of this list are available at the library.

For options outside Springfield, visit Hampden County Food Programs.

Brown Bag Program- for seniors

Program by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

The Brown Bag Program provides a free bag of groceries once a month for people over the age of 55 who meet certain income eligibility. If you qualify for SSI, Medicaid, Fuel Assistance, Veteran’s Aid or have a documented disability for which you receive SSDI , you may qualify for Brown Bag monthly groceries.

Queer Book Club

A monthly club for reading queer books of various genres | Offsite


Monsoon Roastery and Espresso Bar
Saturdays, once a month | 12:30-1:30 PM | Adults

Discover Queer Book Club! A monthly club for reading queer books of various genres. Read one (or all!) of the 4 book options and meet us at Monsoon’s cafe for coffee or lunch to discuss.

All book choices, past and future

Questions?

Get in touch with Blaise Kyrios at bkyrios@springfieldlibrary.org

Silent Book Club

Wish you had more time to read? Looking for some book lovers to hang out with? Join us for Silent Book Club!

Central Library
Second Monday of the Month
6:00 – 7:30 pm | Adults and Teens 16+

East Forest Park Branch
Second Wednesday of the Month
6:00 – 7:30 pm | Adults and Teens 16+

Wish you had more time to read? Looking for some book lovers to hang out with? Join us for Silent Book Club! One night a month, we get cozy at the library for an hour of solo reading and time at the end to chat. Come to meet new people and leave with new book recommendations! For Adults and Teens 16+.

Registration optional, but if you register, you’ll get reminders.

Register on our online calendar.

Seed Library at Mason Square

Free seed library with organic non-GMO seeds for the Springfield community. Request some today from our Mason Square Branch!

The Mason Square Branch Seed Library features a great variety of FREE 100% organic, non-GMO seeds for vegetables, greens, herbs, and flowers, made possible through a grant from Vermont-based seed company, High Mowing Organic Seeds. With multiple varieties, there’s something for everyone!

Because there is a limited supply of seeds, we ask that patrons request no more than 5 seed envelopes per library visit. Please visit the Mason Square Branch Library to choose your seeds!

We also have a variety of gardening books, covering urban gardening, vegetable gardens, container gardens, flower gardens, and more – ask library staff to help you find the perfect book!

2025 Seeds Available

CategoryName of Plant
Beans & Peas Antigua Bush Bean
Celine Bush Bean
Provider Bush Bean
Cascadia Snap Pea
Broccoli, Cauliflower & Sprouts Belstar Broccoli
Root VegetablesRed Ace Beet
Touchstone Gold Beet
Dolciva Carrot
Naval Carrot
Negovia Carrot
Yellowstone Carrot
Starburst Carrot Blend
Valentine’s Day Blend Radish
Watermelon Radish
Flowers Pacific Beauty Calendula
Resina Calendula (
Sensation Blend Cosmos
Deep Red Scabiosa
Evening Colors Sunflower
HerbsGenovese Basil
Rutgers Obsession DMR Basil
Santo Cilantro
reensleeves Dill
Sweet Marjoram
Green Oregano
Lettuces, Greens & Celery Astro Arugula
Esmee Arugula
Fordhook Giant Chard
Rainbow Blend Chard
Tat Soi Asian Green
Lacinato Dinosaur Kale
Ironman Kale Mix
Freckles Lettuce
Gourmet Blend Lettuce
Green Star Lettuce
Lolla Rossa Lettuce
Mild Mustard Blend
Blend Mesclun
Kaleidoscope Salad Mix
Yukina Savoy
Renegade Spinach
Cucumbers, Melons & Squash Green Finger Cucumber
Mini-Me Cucumber
National Pickling Cucumber
Howden Pumpkin
Brulee Butternut Winter Squash
Burgess Buttercup Winter Squash
Blacktail Mountain Watermelon
Dark Green Zucchini
TomatoesBrandywine Tomato
Green Ze bra Tomato
Matt’s Wild Cherry Tomato
Moskvich Tomato
Peacevine Cherry Tomato
Pruden’s Purple Tomato
Peppers Early Jalapeno Hot Pepper
HMS Red Picnic Pepper
Shishito Pepper (mild)

Genealogy Help

Get help with family history, for beginners and experts alike. | Central Library

By Appointment

East Forest Park Library |Online via Zoom or In-Person

Get help with genealogy questions! We can show you how to access the library’s and other genealogy resources, get started with your family history, or tackle a stumbling block on your existing project.

Call to make a phone appointment  – 413-263-6836, ask for Gary, or email gpysznik@springfieldlibrary.org.

Participants will need access to the internet with a computer, tablet, or smartphone to participate on Zoom.

Free Computer Classes for Beginners

Hands-on workshops to build basic computer skills | Central Library | Adults

Computer Classes for Beginners

Do computers intimidate you? The library’s computer classes are great for beginners. We teach hands-on, relaxed courses that will help you get comfortable with computers, even if you’ve never used one before.

By the end of one of our courses, you will be ready to explore on your own. Registration is required to participate, but you do not have to attend all of the classes – feel free to try the first before thinking about the rest.

If you have any questions, you can call your local library to talk to a reference librarian. We can help you register for one of our classes or figure out where to start!


Free Computer Resources