ABOUT US

Long time Lorain resident and Lorain City Schools teacher, Anne Godlewski, had humble hopes of donating rocking chairs and children’s books to expectant mothers most in need upon her anticipated retirement in 2018. Having dedicated nearly 25 years to teaching (preschool through second grade), Anne strongly valued the importance of reading to children from an early age.

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As a mother of two, Anne cherished moments spent rocking her babies to sleep and reading them nightly bedtime stories. The special bond she created with her children was something she hoped all mothers could have. 

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Unfortunately, Anne ​passed away unexpectedly in February of 2017. Her family was determined to keep her memory alive and so became the Rock ‘N’ Read Program. Although Anne is deeply missed, her legacy lives on through deserving rocking chair and book basket recipients.

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Rock 'N' Read is a nonprofit program that raises funds to purchase rocking chairs and children’s books. A portion of remaining funds go directly to the Boys and Girls Club of Lorain County’s SPARK early literacy program for Lorain City Schools.

Rocking chair and book basket recipients are clients of the Mercy Resource Mothers Program who are most in need. Resource Mothers is a program that provides underserved mothers with resources to best prepare them to support their children from the prenatal period through age one.