Update From Schererville Fire Department & Safe Haven Baby Box
In the early morning of July 5th 2022, a healthy baby girl was surrendered at the Schererville Fire Department Safe Haven Baby Box which was blessed in May of 2021. This is the second surrender within the last week via the Safe Haven Baby Box in Indiana.
“The Schererville Fire Departments Mission is to save lives and protect property in the community, on May 4th 2021, we added an additional tool to help save lives by having a Safe Haven Baby box installed at fire station #2. On Tuesday, July 5th 2022, a life has been saved after a brave mother has made the ultimate decision to surrender her baby at this location,” said Robert Patterson Chief of The Schererville Fire Department.
Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) was founded by Monica Kelsey who was abandoned as an infant prior to founding SHBB. She served her country spending 8 years in the military and then was a FF / Medic. Now her lives mission is to end infant abandonment with aide of awareness and education on safe haven laws. Providing anonymous safe surrender locations through SHBB is also key to the mission and now has helped 20 infants.
Monica Kelsey author of “Bless To Have Been Abandon” is the story of the baby box lady detailing her life and journey to starting SHBB which quickly became an Amazon best seller. Kelsey explained we are so proud of two Indiana selfless mothers who have loving surrendered their infants via baby boxes this week.
Schererville’s baby box was installed last year after the valiant fundraising efforts of The TriKappa Associate Chapter of Dyer, Schererville, and St. John was prepared to serve a mother in crisis. “We are so happy this community was prepared for this situation we know this baby will be so loved by an adoptive family and we are so thrilled to be a part of changing the narrative for this birth mother and her infant.”
The baby box allows for safe surrender of infants up to 30 days old when the mother is in crisis or unable to parent. The baby box has a heating and cooling element to provide comfort for the infant along with silent alarm to notify first responders. The infant will be attended to within five minutes, medically evaluated at a local hospital, and then adopted within 30 – 45 days.
Twenty-one infants have been placed in a baby box since November 2017. Nationwide, 121 surrenders have resulted from calling the National Safe Haven hotline, 1-866-99BABY1. This recent Schererville baby surrender marks Indiana’s sixth surrender so far thus year. Safe Haven baby boxes are currently available in Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky and New Mexico.
Robin Arvanitis Schererville Town Council President told RNS, she is proud and humble to provide a literal safe haven for mothers and babies.
Chief Patterson told RNS, “The crew found a letter containing intricate details pertaining to the baby including its time and date of birth.” He went on to say, “The thoughtfulness and care which the details were supplied will further aid and provide a safe and caring environment for the infant.”The Schererville Fire Department applauded the mothers tremendous act of courage and strength entrusting the department with the health and wellbeing of her child.
Monica Kelsey openly spoke to the mom “I want to thank you for bringing your child here, for keeping your child safe, and for knowing the Fire Department here was trained to take care of your child in your moment of need. I honor you and think how amazing it is for you to want what’s best for your child even if its not me. The most selfless act a mother can do for their child. Resources available to you. This little girl was NOT abandoned. She was safely, lovingly, anonymously surrendered by a loving parent that wanted something more for her child and that speaks volumes about you. To the parent that surrendered, we love you. There is a community you that loves you, that is prating for you, that wants to walk alongside you on your journey”.
Inmates at the Branchville Correctional Facility in Branchville, Indiana handmake the mattress pads for all Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Kelsey told RNS that the inmates take pride in creating them. She recently visited the facility and said the inmates were so happy to meet her and loved the mission of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. She signed a copy of her book and gave it to them to read. Inmates told her that this skill is important to them and it’s important that they take their to time to make each one special.
21 babies have been surrendered via SHBB in the last 5 years. 121 babies have been surrendered to firefighters, paramedics or a nurse.
Story – Ashley Fenes – RNS
