Enterprise, Ala. (WDNews) — A new Safe Haven Baby Box has been installed in Enterprise, offering parents in crisis a safe and anonymous way to surrender their newborns. The Baby Box, located at the Central Fire Station on Plaza Drive, is the 12th of its kind in Alabama and the 279th in the U.S.
“This is a blessing not only for Enterprise but for the entire Wiregrass region,” said Mayor William E. Cooper. “The Safe Haven Baby Box offers parents the option to thoughtfully surrender a child, while also creating a true blessing for adoptive parents.”
Enterprise Fire Chief Christopher Davis emphasized the importance of this initiative. “The Safe Haven Baby Box represents a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our community,” Davis stated.
The Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) allows parents to anonymously place their child into the box, which triggers a silent alarm alerting first responders. The infant is then taken to the hospital and later surrendered to the Alabama Department of Human Resources for care.
Monica Kelsey, the founder of SHBB, shared her deeply personal story during the opening. Abandoned as a newborn in a similar box, Kelsey has made it her life’s mission to ensure that parents have this option. “Today, we give parents in this community another option to safely surrender their infant if they choose,” she said. “I will forever walk with these moms who choose something safe for their child.”
The SHBB organization provides a 24-hour national hotline and has facilitated more than 150 legal Safe Haven surrenders across the U.S.
Rev. Willie White, Jr., pastor of Johns Chapel AME Church, provided a ceremonial blessing of the Baby Box, offering prayers of protection and comfort for both the babies and the parents who may need to use the service.
The city expressed gratitude to those who helped make the Baby Box a reality, including the Enterprise City Council and local businesses.
For more information about Safe Haven Baby Boxes, visit their national hotline or website for assistance.
