Putnam County raising funds for a Safe Haven Baby Box

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Putnam County officials have announced plans to raise funds for the installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box at Putnam County EMS headquarters located in Greencastle.

EMS Chief Kelly Russ initiated the process with the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization in early October.

A Safe Haven Baby Box provides a legal and safe surrender option for parents who is unable to care for their healthy newborns who are 30 days old or younger. Indiana is one of five states with updated Safe Haven laws to offer a completely anonymous option in an effort to eliminate infant abandonment.

Nine infants have been surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box, with five of them surrendered in 2020. A list of Safe Haven locations is available at https://shbb.org/locations.

Safe Haven Baby Box Inc. is a non-profit founded by firefighter/medic Monica Kelsey. She was abandoned as an infant and is committed to installing more Safe Haven Baby Boxes and raising awareness in communities across America.

The Safe Haven Baby Boxes national 24-hour hotline (1-866-99BABY1) offers counseling services to a parent who might be considering the surrender of a newborn.

Nationwide, 83 surrenders have resulted from calling the Safe Haven Baby Boxes National 24-hour hotline.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes cost roughly $15,000 with installation. The Baby Boxes have a heating and cooling feature and are equipped with alarm systems to notify 911 once the infant is placed in the medical bassinet.

The newborn is retrieved from the inside of the building within minutes of the alarm notification.

If you wish to donate to the Safe Haven Baby Boxes program in Putnam County, mail checks to Safe Haven Baby Boxes at P.O. Box 185, Woodburn, IN 46797 with “Putnam County Baby Box” in the memo.

Donations may also be made at the Putnam County EMS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/putnamcountyems.

For more information or to make a donation online, visit www.SHBB.org or call (888) 742-2133.

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