Baldwin Family Gift Benefits Ashtabula Community

Seventy new books, part of a generous gift from the local Baldwin family, are being donated to several Ashtabula County libraries. The new books will extend community accessibility and supplement the original Baldwin Library Collection, donated in 1999, which is housed at Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Ashtabula Office.

Funded by a $25,000 gift from the children of Ashtabula resident Richard H. Baldwin, and his brothers — Raymond F. Baldwin and Robert F. Baldwin, Sr. — the books were given to the community to raise awareness about the benefits of hospice and palliative care. The collection also includes grief support and bereavement resources for families who are coping with the loss of loved ones.

The new books cover a wide range of topical issues, including coping with miscarriage and stillbirth, caregiving resources, becoming a “midlife orphan” (loss of both parents), loss of a child from drug overdose, saying goodbye to a pet, and much more.

Pete Baldwin, the son of Raymond, and a member of Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Ashtabula Advisory Council, said the collection fulfills Richard’s life-long dream of supporting Ashtabula County families caring for loved ones. “The Baldwin Library Collection makes Richard’s dream a reality, and provides a meaningful way for my cousins and me to honor our fathers and leave a lasting legacy,” he said.

“We’re so grateful for the generosity of the Baldwin family,” said Catherine Westcott, Community Facility Coordinator for Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Ashtabula Office. “We are honored by their support of our mission. This new donation allows us to extend our educational outreach across the county by making the books locally available at community libraries.”