A pro-life organization in Indiana is working to install “baby boxes” in which mothers can safely and anonymously hand their babies over to authorities if they cannot care for them.
According to ChristianToday.com, the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization was founded by Monica Kelsey who was abandoned by her mother shortly after she was born.
Each box is temperature-controlled and padded in order to keep the baby safe. When a mom puts her baby in the box, a call is automatically made to 911. The box also locks once the door is shut to keep the baby secure until emergency personnel can arrive, which is scheduled to happen within three to five minutes.
In explaining the idea for the boxes, Kelsey said: "As a child who was abandoned by my birth mother two hours after I was born, I am honored that Christ has me spearheading a programme that will save the lives of abandoned children. This is truly in His honor!”
Thus far, two boxes have been installed, one in Woodburn and one in Michigan City, Indiana.
Indiana’s Knights of Columbus are sponsoring the installation of 100 boxes. Each box costs $2,000.
Kelsey says that other states have implemented similar efforts which have saved hundreds of babies’ lives.
"In Arizona they have been using 'Baby Drawers' for 10 years, with great success, saving babies from abandonment by giving women complete anonymity. There have been countless lives saved by their program.”
Publication date: May 12, 2016
