ATHENS, Ala. — Athens and Muscle Shoals will welcome new Safe Haven Baby Boxes, providing a secure and anonymous option for parents in crisis to surrender their newborns. The baby boxes will be installed on the exterior walls of local hospitals and fire departments.
Athens-Limestone Hospital will host a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its baby box on October 22. The Muscle Shoals baby box, located at the Muscle Shoals Fire Department, will also have a blessing ceremony.
These baby boxes allow mothers to safely place their infants inside. Once a newborn is placed in the box, the exterior door automatically locks, ensuring security. Hospital or fire department staff can access the infant through an interior door, enabling immediate medical attention.
Across the country, there are 277 Safe Haven Baby Box locations, with several in Alabama.