San Angelo could get a Safe Haven Baby Box — here’s what that means

SAN ANGELO, Texas — San Angelo already shines in many ways, and Melanie Wood hopes to contribute to its legacy by introducing a Safe Haven Baby Box, a cause that speaks from the heart.

“So here in Texas, we have the highest number of newborns who have been abandoned in our state, and it seems to be going up every day. With Safe Haven Baby Boxes, this is an alternative to that,” Wood explained.

A baby box provides a safe, temperature-controlled environment for parents or guardians to surrender their infant. When a baby is placed inside, the box immediately notifies the appropriate care professionals, who can promptly retrieve the child. This process allows guardians to surrender their baby without encountering the care professionals, reducing any fear of judgment that might prevent them from ensuring the child’s safety.

Chief of the San Angelo Fire Department Johnny Fisher said their crew has experienced the reality of this firsthand.

“The most recent was probably about seven or eight years ago… the baby was dropped off by the mother. Fire stations and hospitals are safe haven through the Moses Law, a safe places to surrender your babies,” Fisher recalled. “We took the baby, the baby was unharmed. Everything went great. A few questions were asked, like maybe the name, if there’s any health problems or concerns, and then the baby was taken to the hospital. So it was very uneventful, and worked out, well.”

However, this is not always the case. From Lubbock to Los Angeles, infant abandonment remains a heartbreaking reality. A Safe Haven baby box provides an alternative with an emphasis on anonymity.

“Sometimes they haven’t told anybody that they’re pregnant. It could be a teenager. It could be just anybody. They haven’t told anybody yet,” Wood shared. “This gives them a way to be anonymous and still love their baby enough to surrender it in a Safe Haven Baby Boxes.”

Right now, a Safe Haven Baby Box in San Angleo is still an idea, but one with a location and goal in mind.

 “When the money is raised for the box, we’ll have to order the box, but once it comes in, it’s going to be installed at the central fire station, 306 West First. It’s going to be installed on the south exterior wall,” Fisher said.

They are currently in the fundraising stage, but with a price tag of upwards of $25,000, there’s still a long way to go.

“We have a little less than $1,000, and I believe here in San Angelo that people do love our community, and I think this is great for our community, and that they can protect the least of these. They can protect these, these infants, and still support the moms as well,” Wood added.

A way to save lives and offer hope to families in desperate situations. Click here to donate, and if you have any questions, you can contact hanna@safehavenbabyboxes.com or call (260) 632-2338.