Latest news with #BabyBoxes
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WATCH TONIGHT: Left with Love, Inside the Baby Box Movement
ABILENE, Texas () – Tune in tonight for a powerful and emotional special diving into the stories behind Baby Boxes — safe haven drop-offs that are quietly saving newborn lives and offering hope to families in crisis. Through real-life accounts and expert insights, this special brings attention to a life-changing movement that's making an impact across communities. Left with Love: Inside the Baby Box Movement You can watch it live on KTAB or right here on at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday. Immediately following the special, join us for a community forum featuring five panelists who will break down what Baby Boxes are, how they work, and the difference they're making in our area. Tonight's panel includes: Karen Light, representing the Abilene Safe Haven Baby Box Melanie Wood, representing the San Angelo Safe Haven Baby Box Holly Corbett, Outreach Coordinator for Pregnancy Resources Abilene Cande Flores, Chief of the Abilene Fire Department Lt. Chris Martinez, firefighter with the Belen Fire Department in New Mexico Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Columbia partners with Safe Haven Baby Boxes for installation at Fire Station No. 1
The city of Columbia announced a partnership with Safe Haven Baby Boxes to install a life-saving Baby Box at the newly-renovated Columbia Fire Station No. 1, 1000 S. Garden St. This installation provides an anonymous, safe and secure option for parents in crisis to surrender their newborns, ensuring that each infant receives immediate medical care and the opportunity for adoption. The Tennessee Safe Haven law allows mothers of newborns to surrender unharmed babies to designated facilities—such as fire stations, hospitals and law enforcement agencies—within two weeks of birth without fear of prosecution. As long as the baby is unharmed and the child is surrendered within this timeframe, the mother—or parents—will not face prosecution and are assured complete confidentiality. This law was enacted to reduce unsafe abandonment of infants, providing parents with a safe and compassionate alternative. More: Columbia's new restaurants of 2024 include tastes from around the world and more Designed with innovative safety features, Safe Haven Baby Boxes are installed on the exterior walls of approved infant surrender locations. Each box features a locking exterior door that automatically engages when a newborn is placed inside, and an interior door allows medical personnel to promptly retrieve the infant, ensuring immediate attention and care. This system offers both safety for the baby and peace of mind for the parents, providing a lifeline during a difficult time, a city press release said. Every year, countless infants are abandoned across the U.S., according to the release. "These heartbreaking situations often arise when parents face emotional and practical challenges that lead to desperate decisions. The installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes addresses this critical need by offering an anonymous, secure way for parents to surrender their infants, giving newborns a chance for a safe beginning and a brighter future," the release said. Nick Brown, Deputy Chief of Columbia Fire & Rescue said the initiative will offer a compassionate solution for a crisis situation. 'We are proud to be part of this vital mission to protect the most vulnerable members of our community,' said Nick Brown, Deputy Chief of Columbia Fire & Rescue. 'The Baby Box represents a compassionate and immediate solution for parents who find themselves in crisis, and we are committed to ensuring that this service is available to those in need.' More: Columbia receives clean audit report for 2024 fiscal year Since its founding, Safe Haven Baby Boxes has been dedicated to raising awareness about the Safe Haven Law and installing Baby Boxes in locations across the U.S. Through this initiative, SHBB helps ensure that no child is left without care and that no parent feels hopeless in a time of crisis, the press release said. Safe Haven Baby Boxes is leading the installation of the Baby Box at Fire Station No. 01, with support from the City of Columbia. Over a dozen cities around the state like Jackson, Knoxville, Hendersonville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga and Oak Ridge have Safe Haven Baby Boxes locations. More: 12 emergency sirens to be funded by grant in Columbia following May tornado For more information or to donate, visit This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia partners with Safe Haven Baby Boxes at Fire Station No. 1
