The City of Columbia is stepping up to save abandoned newborns. Columbia is partnering with Safe Haven Baby Boxes (SHBB) to install a Baby Box at Columbia Fire Station No. 01. A Baby Box provides an anonymous and safe place for parents to surrender their unwanted newborns for adoption. This baby box marks the seventh in Tennessee. There are more than 250 baby boxes located at facilities across the nation.
The Tennessee Safe Haven law allows mothers of newborns to surrender unharmed babies to facilities within two weeks of birth. As long as the infant is unharmed, the parents will not face prosecution and are given confidentiality.
Baby Box at Fire Station No. 01
Baby Box at Fire Station No. 01Baby Boxes are installed on exterior walls of designated infant surrender locations. The box features a locking exterior door that engages when a baby is placed inside. An interior door allows personnel to retrieve the infant.
“We are proud to be part of this vital mission to protect the most vulnerable members of our community,” says Nick Brown, deputy chief of Columbia Fire & Rescue.
Safe Haven raises awareness about the Safe Haven Law and installs Baby Boxes across the United States. Partnering with the City of Columbia represents a step toward saving lives and offers a compassionate alternative for parents and their newborns.
To be a part of this life-saving initiative, donations are encouraged from the community. For more information, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/donationsfortennessee.
