Gadsden to install Safe Haven Baby Box
Oct. 6—A Madison organization has donated $18,000 to the city of Gadsden to install a Safe Haven Baby Box and at least one Calhoun County city is also reportedly in line to be a similar beneficiary of its generosity.
The Kids to Love Foundation will provide the funds for a climate-controlled receptacle that is monitored by audio and video and locks after an infant is placed inside. An alarm then alerts 911 and first responders who can quickly attend to the baby and take the child to the hospital.
The Gadsden location will be one of 12 cities in the state to receive one of the boxes from the foundation.
"Surrendering a newborn baby is a tremendously difficult decision and if someone has decided to take that step, we want to make sure it can be done in the safest way possible," said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. "We hope this Baby Box never has to be used, but we're thankful to be selected as a location for this service that could save a life."
Gadsden's box will be located at Fire Station No. 3 at 300 Garden Street in East Gadsden next to U.S. 431.
The foundation's distribution of the boxes comes after the Alabama Legislature this summer increased the age an infant can be surrendered from three days to 45 days and authorized the boxes to be installed at hospitals and fire departments which are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
An anonymous donor has promised the foundation funding for the first ten Safe Haven boxes to be placed in the state.
"The Fire Department constantly works to save lives and help those in need and we're proud to be able to offer a safe place where we can quickly assist during a serious situation," said Fire Chief Wil Reed.
State Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, said passage of that bill was one he strongly supported during remarks at a Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce event this week.
"It kills me just thinking about anyone not wanting a child," Kelley said. "We don't want any babies to be found in a dumpster or anywhere like that because there is someone who will want and love that child."
Kelley said "hopefully" one of the first ones being funded by the foundation will be installed in Anniston.
Oxford was in line early last year to be the first in the state to offer a baby box service after hearing a presentation from a Girl Scout.
Local health officials determined the best facility to host a baby box would be the Oxford EMS, however, after further study, officials found installing the device could jeopardize the agency's insurance.
That was before the passage of the recent bill which specifies hospitals and fire stations as legally able to accept infants.
Oxford Fire Chief Gary Sparks said Thursday he has not received any notification that his facilities would be getting a donated baby box, and the installation of one at one of the city's fire stations "would be up to the city council."
The official list of baby box recipients from the foundation also includes Tuscaloosa, Opelika, Madison, Mobile, Orange Beach, Dothan, Prattville and Hoover.
Anniston Fire Chief Jeff Waldrep said as of Thursday he has not been officially informed whether Anniston was on the list of cities to receive one of the boxes.
"If we do get one, it will be placed at our main station," Waldrep said.
Kids to Love was founded in 2004 and has served hundreds of thousands of children living in foster care, putting clothes on their backs, getting Christmas presents under the tree and giving them scholarships for the next steps of their education.
Kids to Love also operates Davidson Farms, a foster home for girls, the Whitaker Cottage Community for girls aging out of foster care, and its own licensed child placing agency. It is also home to KTECH, a private school that offers job training in manufacturing, robotics, and more to young adults and people looking to make a career change.
Ribbon cuttings for the donated boxes across the state are expected in November, which is Adoption Awareness Month.
Staff Writer Brian Graves: 256-236-1551.
