City of Newberry Announces the Opening of New Safe Haven Baby Box

The City of Newberry is thrilled to announce the blessing and opening of the new Safe Haven Baby Box at our local fire station, located at 310 NW 250th Street. This significant event underscores our community's dedication to the welfare and safety of our most vulnerable members.

Thanks to the profound generosity of our community, including a critical $10,000 donation from Jordan Fairfield and proceeds from "Newberry- Small Town, Big Heart" T-shirt sales, we have successfully installed Florida’s second Baby Box, and the 185th in the United States. This initiative offers a safe, anonymous way for parents in crisis to surrender their newborns in a secure, warm, and medically-equipped setting. Equipped with three silent alarms, the Baby Box ensures that any surrendered infant will receive immediate attention and be promptly taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. Families prepared for foster care with the intention to adopt will be able to provide a home for these infants within 30 to 45 days.

The concept of the Baby Box in Newberry was inspired by a similar instance in Ocala, Florida. Assistant Director of Finance & Administration Amanda Hagan, moved by the story of a baby girl surrendered at the Ocala Safe Haven Baby Box, proposed the idea to Chief Vogel, who wholeheartedly supported adding the facility to the Newberry Fire Station. Chief Vogel remarked, “We hope we never have to use it, but if we do, well done Newberry.”

We cordially invite all community members to join us for the blessing of the Baby Box on Thursday, November 30th at 4:30 PM EST. Mayor Jordan Marlowe expressed, “The Safe Haven Baby Box installation is a testament to our citizens' collective goodwill and compassion. Newberry is a community that consistently comes together in times of need.”

For further information about Safe Haven Baby Boxes, please visit https://shbb.org/.

In the event of a crisis or for 24/7 assistance, The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides a confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). TTY users can dial 711 and then 1-833-852-6262 to access the service.

Our deepest gratitude goes to everyone who contributed to this vital project. We are immensely proud of the significant impact it will have on the lives of infants and families facing crisis situations.