Fort Dodge Welcomes First in the State Safe Haven Baby Box Thursday Morning

The hope is that babies will be saved, as the state’s first safe haven baby box is now operational in Fort Dodge

Thursday morning a baby box that was installed on the north side of the Fort Dodge Fire Department was christened with a blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony and a demonstration of how the box will operate.

According to FD Fire Chief Steve Hergenreiter there is a 60 second delay between the time the baby is put in the box and officials are notified.

The baby box offers an anonymous option for a parent to surrender their infant up to 90 days old safely and without criminal charges.

Founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Box Monica Kelsey is a retired firefighter medic, ex military and says she has always been on the frontlines of trying to protect something.

Kelsey says she was abandoned by her 17 year old mother who had been sexually assaulted in 1972 and left pregnant at a time when there were limited options. She says she sees the mission of bringing Baby Box’s to communities across the country as her calling.

This is the 171st baby box in the nation with the closest one to Fort Dodge currently in St. Louis, Missouri.