The City of Harrison will dedicate its first Safe Haven Baby Box at on Wednesday. The event will take place at the Harrison Fire Department, located at 523 South Pine Street. The public is welcome to attend.
This will be the 30th Safe Haven Baby Box in Arkansas and the 358th in the country. The boxes provide a safe and anonymous way for parents in crisis to legally surrender a newborn.
The event will include remarks from Rose Mimms of Arkansas Right to Life and Jerry Hogue with the Knights of Columbus. A blessing will be offered by Father Ben Riley of Mary Mother of God Catholic Church.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes were founded by Monica Kelsey to help prevent infant abandonment. The organization also runs a 24/7 National Crisis Hotline at 1-866-99BABY1.
Since 2017, 60 babies have been safely surrendered in baby boxes, with over 150 more handed off through the hotline. Babies are placed for adoption through local family services.
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