By Halea Franklin

A newly installed Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) at the Linton Fire Department offers a safe option to mothers in crisis and hope for surrendered babies.

“We are the only organization in America today that is literally saving babies in boxes at hospitals and fire stations in multiple states,” said Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of SHBB, Inc.

Linton’s SHBB is the 75th box in operation in Indiana and the 92nd in the country.

Indiana’s Safe Haven Law enables a person to surrender an infant anonymously without the fear of arrest or prosecution.  

“Greene County had some surrenders this year where a baby was legally surrendered under the protection of the safe haven law,” Kelsey said.  “I don’t think this is a matter of if the box gets used, but I think it’s a matter of when it gets used.”

The mission to save babies from abandonment is a very personal one for Kelsey.

“To tell you a little bit about myself and why I am so passionate about Safe Haven Baby Boxes, I literally have to take you guys a few years back to August of 1972 when a young girl was brutally attacked and raped and left alongside of the side of the road. This of course was when abortion was illegal in our country even in the case of rape and incest. This 17-year-old girl was strong enough to press charges against the man who raped her – he was arrested and he was charged. If that wasn’t the worst of it, six weeks later when her life was finally getting back to normal, she finds out she’s pregnant,” Kelsey said. “She was hidden for the remainder of the pregnancy. She gave birth in April of 1973 and abandoned her child two hours after that child was born and that child was me.”

Kelsey said her biological father is a rapist and she doesn’t even know what her ethnicity is.

“But I am so thankful to be standing on the front lines of this movement ensuring women have a safe option to place their child in their moment in crisis that my birth mother did not have,” she said.

The box has climate control and an alarm system that ensures the infant will be attended to within five minutes of being placed in the box. When an infant is placed in the box, a silent alarm alerts the Linton Police Department. The police department then alerts the fire department.

“There is a lot of playful discourse between the departments so when we get to see the project come to fruition, it really, really matters,” said Linton Police Department Chief Paul Clark. “Our children are our greatest resource throughout the world, but especially here in Greene County so if this gives an opportunity for someone in crisis to bring a baby here and know that it’s going to be loved and taken care of, we’ll call that a win.”

The date of the box’s blessing by Warren Shake of Linton First Christian Church, was a significant one.

Linda Znachko, founder of He Knows Your Name, said Tuesday marked the seventh-year anniversary of the finding of baby Amelia deceased at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis. Safe Haven has started raising awareness for the Safe Haven Law in Amelia’s name.

“Amelia was the last abandoned baby found deceased in Indiana,” Znachko said. “Amelia left behind her footprint. It is proof she lived. And, she definitely was here. The Safe Haven Baby Box logo bears Amelia’s footprint, which is now her legacy to raise awareness about the Safe Haven Law.”

Kelsey added, “Today we honor the legacy of Amelia and install this Safe Haven Baby Box knowing we want to prevent the fate Ameila suffered. Parents in crisis need an anonymous option. This box is going to protect mothers in crisis and their infants by giving them a safe option to surrender anonymously. We are delighted to add Linton as a Safe Haven Baby Box community.”

Those in attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony were treated to a visit with a special guest – Nola and her family.

Nola was surrendered in a SHBB in northern Indiana in 2019. She was adopted by Tessa and Keegan Higgs of Paoli.

“Nola’s (birth) mother had surrendered her in February of 2019 and because of the safe haven law, we don’t know a lot about the situation. We do know her mother very much loved her as she was born at a healthy weight and free of any (illegal) substances. She was wrapped in a warm towel and breast fed before handing her over. We know that her mother cared for her and loved her until the very end of her surrender,” Tessa said.

With a smile on her face, Tessa informed those in attendance that Nola, short for Magnolia, will be three in a few short months.

Linton Fire Department Chief Brad Sparks said there’s been a lot of talk about how he’s done a great job of getting the project started. He wanted to clarify that the project came to him via Stockton Township Trustee Donna Smith.  Funding for the project also came from the trustee’s office.

“Donna started this program for me. When she threw it at me, I ran with it,” Sparks said.

Thank you to the community for supporting us on this project. I say I am excited about getting our first baby but I’m also nervous and scared. But seeing that right there, we’ll take it any day,” he said as he looked at Nola.

Linton Mayor John Wilkes said when collaboration like this happens in the community it makes him feel good to serve as mayor.

“Our people come together. It takes more than one person doing these projects. When you get the trustee involved, you get the city workers involved, there are a lot of things that can get accomplished when we all work together,” Wilkes said.