ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Abilene became the home of the first Safe Haven Baby Box in Texas in April. Although it has not been used since then, the community is now rallying for a second box.
The box arrived in Abilene after the Texas Legislature approved it, and local resident Karen Light was inspired by the founder of the national movement. After discussing the idea with City Manager Robert Hanna, various local nonprofits, and Abilene Fire Chief Cande Flores, Light noted that the plan for the box began to come together.
“I couldn’t hardly believe it was happening. It just went together step by step by the people in our community stepping forward,” Light said. “We had Nehemiah Abilene come and say, ‘We’re going to do the pouring in the slab and the installation of the box for a donation, for free.’ And most of our services were donated.”
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Chief Flores said while the box has not been used yet, he is happy it is an option in our area.
“Having this available option so that a baby could be safely dropped off to where that parent feels like they have an avenue to hand that child off and that we could take it and safely care for it,” Flores said.
The choice to use the box, Flores said, is not to abandon babies but to give them a new chance at life.
“People who go down this road, that doesn’t mean that they don’t care for that child. In fact, most of the time they do care for that child. It’s just they’ve come to a point where they can no longer provide for the child, and they’re looking for someone who can,” Flores said.
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After the positive response from the first box, Light now says the community is trying for a second.
“The second box will be in South Abilene, and then we will take this idea across Texas and encourage and help other communities put in safe Haven baby boxes through Texas,” Light said.
The organization, West Texas For Life, is currently fundraising for a second box.
