The following press release was sent to the Bloomingtonian:
Monroe Fire Protection District Blesses
95th Baby Box in Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA (DECEMBER 14, 2022)- Monroe Fire Protection District
Station 25 invites the community to attend the blessing of the Safe Haven Baby Box on
Thursday December 15th. The event will occur at 5 PM EST and at the Fire Station located
at 5081 N Old State Rd 37 Bloomington, IN 47408. The Monroe location will be the 131st
Baby Box in the nation.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes was founded by Monica Kelsey, who was abandoned as an infant.
Prior to founding Safe Haven Baby Boxes, she served her country spending eight years in
the military and served her community as a firefighter/medic. Now her life’s mission is to
end infant abandonment with the aid of awareness and education on Safe Haven Laws.
Providing anonymous safe surrender locations through Safe Haven Baby Boxes is also key
to the mission.
Monica Kelsey authored “Blessed to Have Been Abandoned,” detailing her life and
journey to starting Safe Haven Baby Boxes, which quickly became an Amazon bestseller.
Kelsey explained, “The Baby Box provides a resource for mothers in crisis. If a mother
should need to surrender her infant without revealing her identity the community of
Bloomington now has a resource for that. We are protecting both the mother and infant by
providing this resource and we are grateful that the Monroe Fire Protection District has
made this a priority. It is saving lives!”
The Safe Haven Baby Box project was made possible due to the Monroe Fire Protection
District Volunteer Inc. providing funding. The execution of the project was due to Artisan
Masonry providing Masonary Work, Chauffeur Jim Shaw providing Installation and Finish
Work and IT Specialist Darrell Cooper providing IT Technical Work for Alarms and
Monitoring.
The Baby Box is a sophisticated device featuring climate control and a silent alarm system
that notifies first responders of a surrendered infant. The infant will be attended to within
five minutes, medically evaluated, and adopted within 30 to 45 days.
Twenty one infants have been placed in a Baby Box since 2017. Nationwide, 125
surrenders have resulted from calling the National Safe Haven Baby Box hotline. Seven
Safe Haven Baby Box surrenders have occurred so far this year. Safe Haven Baby
Boxes are currently available in Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, North
Carolina and New Mexico.
For any questions Monica Kelsey will be on site at this blessing. For more information
please contact Monica at [email protected]PROGRAM
Monroe Fire Protection District Blesses
95th Baby Box in Indiana
WHAT: Blessing of the Monroe Fire Protection District Station 25
WHERE: 5081 N Old State Rd 37 Bloomington, IN 47408
WHEN: December 15th at 5 PM EST
SPEAKERS INCLUDED:
● Monica Kelsey, Safe Haven Baby Boxes Founder
● Battalion Chief/Public Information Officer Jason Allen, Monroe Fire
Protection District
● Chaplin Brian Stewart, Monroe Fire Protection District
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Safe Haven Baby Boxes Website
Safe Haven Baby Boxes Facebook
Safe Haven Baby Boxes Instagram
Safe Haven Baby Boxes Twitter
Safe Haven Baby Boxes TikTokMEDIA TIP SHEET
Monroe Fire Protection District Blesses
95th Baby Box in Indiana
● The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization offers a Safe Haven National Crisis
Hotline (1-866-99BABY1) available 24/7/365. The hotline offers counseling
services to a parent who is unable or unwilling to care for their newborn.
● The footprint featured in Safe Haven Baby Boxes’ logo and on the Safe Haven
Baby Box is to honor the legacy of Baby Amelia. Baby Amelia was abandoned at
Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 28th, 2014. She was the
last deceased infant found from illegal abandonment in Indiana.
● Safe Haven Baby Boxes are equipped with alarm systems to immediately notify
911 that there is a baby in the Safe Haven Baby Box. Safe Haven Baby Boxes
feature climate control through heating and cooling features ensuring the infant
will be comfortable. Once the infant is placed inside the Baby Box the outside
door locks until the first responders arrive within five minutes.
● Education is critical to the mission of Safe Haven Baby Boxes to end infant
abandonment. Safe Haven Baby Boxes offers an educational training video for
schools tailored to teach students about the Safe Haven Laws and what options
are available. If your school is interested, please email us at
[email protected].
● Newborns surrendered under the Safe Haven Law are placed with their forever
families within 30-45 days. Babies like Gracie, who was a Safe Haven Baby Box
baby, are blessed with a forever family thanks to a birth parent’s brave decision to
keep their child safe.
