Newborn left in Safe Haven Baby Box in West Terre Haute

Friday, October 30, 2026 at 7:26 AM

By Staff report

A newborn was recently safely and legally was surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department

The infant was placed anonymously in the temperature-controlled Baby Box was swiftly attended to by first responders.

“This mother’s decision was an act of selfless love,” said Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. “She chose life. She chose safety. She chose hope.”

Installed in February 2024, the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department Baby Box is one of 152 Baby Boxes in Indiana and part of a growing national network of nearly 490 boxes across 27 states.

Indiana’s Safe Haven Law allows a parent to legally and anonymously surrender a newborn up to 30 days old at a designated Safe Haven location, including a Baby Box. Each Baby Box is equipped with 24/7 monitoring and a silent alarm system that alerts first responders the moment a baby is placed inside.

Since 2017, Safe Haven Baby Boxes has helped facilitate the safe surrender of 90 infants through Baby Boxes and over 225 through the National Hotline.

18 Baby Box surrenders have been reported this year.

The national hotline is available by calling 1-866-99BABY1 for counseling and support.