CITRA, Fla. – Marion County Fire Rescue has installed its second Safe Haven Baby Box, expanding its network of safe surrender locations for newborns.
The installation comes amid a series of baby box dedications, with more blessing ceremonies scheduled in Bronson on Monday and Palm Coast on Tuesday.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes Founder and CEO, Monica Kelsey, said the organization is seeing an increase in demand for this lifesaving resource.
[WATCH BELOW: Baby found in Ocala Safe Haven baby box adopted]
“When you see the problem is when you see the solution,” Kelsey said.
The organization works to prevent illegal abandonment of newborns through raising awareness, a 24-hour crisis hotline for mothers, and the implementation of safe haven baby boxes as a last resort option for women seeking to safely surrender their babies.
“The baby boxes across this country are expanding because we’re still having abandoned babies in the communities that don’t have them,” Kelsey said.
Across Marion County, there are now two Safe Haven Baby Boxes: One located at 1400 SW 6th Avenue in Ocala and the one installed today located at 2189 NE 180th Lane in Citra – both at Marion County Fire Rescue stations.
According to Kelsey, because some of the communities they serve have such a large geographic area like Marion County, multiple baby box locations are essential when it comes to accessibility.
[WATCH BELOW: First newborn surrendered to Safe Haven Baby Box in Ocala]
“We have to date twice contacted Uber to get mothers to facilities to surrender their infants,” Kelsey said. “So having communities equipped with multiple ones so that they don’t have to drive 50 miles is critical for some of these moms that don’t have transportation.”
Marion County Fire Chief James Banta emphasized the program’s importance for mothers in crisis.
“It gives them a stopgap, right? It gives them a place to go when they don’t know where to go or what to do and know that they’re not going to go to jail for it,” Banta said. “And additionally, it might also give the mother some time to come to realization and get the help she needs. It’s not the end of the road for the mom.”
The expansion is set to continue, with Banta confirming plans for six additional baby boxes as the county renovates and constructs new fire stations over the next several years.