MADISON, Ala. — Kids to Love announced the opening of another baby box in Alabama, this time in Gadsden. Located at Gadsden Fire Department Station 3 on 300 Garden Street, the box is now operational following today's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
This marks the third baby box in Alabama, with Madison having the state's inaugural box in January, already being used twice for newborn surrenders. Prattville has the state's other baby box.
In spring 2023, Kids to Love initiated efforts to expand Alabama's Safe Haven law, providing mothers with more options. Later that year, the Legislature passed House Bill 473, letting mothers surrender infants under 45 days old to fire stations staffed round-the-clock with at least one emergency medical services personnel.
The baby boxes, mounted externally, automatically lock upon placement of a baby inside, triggering an alarm to alert onsite medical staff who can then securely handle the newborn from within the building.
In addition to championing the expansion of the Safe Haven law, Kids to Love secured funding for installing baby boxes across Alabama. Tuscaloosa and Opelika are the next cities set to receive these boxes.
Kids to Love Founder and CEO Lee Marshall expressed joy over the Gadsden box's opening, stating, "We are happy to see this new box open in the city of Gadsden.”
Marshall also thanked an anonymous donor whose support made these boxes a reality. “We have already seen in Madison that there is a need for a place for parents to surrender babies that they felt, for whatever reason, they were not able to parent. “We are committed to giving these children a chance to thrive in whatever way we can, and we are thankful for our anonymous donor who shares our vision and made these boxes possible.”
According to DHR, when a baby is surrendered in a baby safety device, the child must be taken to a local hospital for evaluation and the local county DHR must be notified. DHR takes immediate care, custody and control of the infant. DHR will then follow its process to find a proper placement for the child.