Book Harvest, a Durham-based nonprofit organization, recently announced a partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) to bring books to families across the state.

Book Harvest runs initiatives that promote youth literacy, including sending newborns home from hospitals with a starter library, stocking outdoor book boxes, maintaining reading materials in laundromats, and sending pre-K and elementary school students into summer break with books to keep.

The organization has provided more than 2.5 million books to families since 2011 with the aim of “ensuring that parents have the tools and power to ignite and strengthen their children’s literacy,” according to its website.

“At Book Harvest, we know that literacy begins at birth, in the home, powered by parents and nourished by books,” Ginger Young, founder and CEO of Book Harvest, said in a press release. “We’re thrilled to partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield NC to ensure that families across North Carolina have abundant access to books that inspire and empower young readers.”

Blue Cross NC, a nonprofit health care organization, is also based in Durham.

According to the press release, Blue Cross NC will offer a variety of free children’s books provided by Book Harvest at community events for families across the state. Through the collaboration, Blue Cross NC aims to ensure that families in every community, regardless of geography, can benefit from an abundant supply of books, the release said.

Research shows that early childhood literacy is an important part of childhood wellbeing. Among other things, reading stimulates the brain, and most brain development occurs in the first three years of life.

According to the release, this collaboration “marks a significant milestone” in the ongoing work of promoting literacy in North Carolina and strengthening the connection between literacy and lifelong health.

“This partnership underscores the power of books to bring families together and promote early literacy and health outcomes for children,” said Angela Boykin, CEO of Healthy Blue, Blue Cross NC’s Medicaid Managed Care plan. “We are proud to work with Book Harvest to connect families with resources that set the foundation for a lifetime of success.”