Kentucky's 36th Safe Haven Baby Box installed at Hikes Point fire station in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville has another safe place for overwhelmed parents to anonymously surrender newborns when they don't feel they can take care of them properly.

A ceremony was held Friday to dedicate the Safe Haven Baby Box at the Louisville Fire Department at 2900 Hikes Lane. It's the 36th baby box in Kentucky.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are usually located at fire stations and hospitals. The boxes are climate-controlled and an alarm alerts first responders the moment a child is placed inside.

The life-saving resource allows parents to surrender a newborn anonymously without legal repercussions. Surrendered infants are adopted by families who have registered as foster to adopt.

Local officials joined Monica Kelsey, who created the Safe Haven Baby Box, for Friday's dedication and blessing, including Mike Mulrooney, the founder of Louisville nonprofit Shirley's Way.

"People get in all kinds of situations, and I don't judge," Mulrooney said. "You don't understand situations, but if there's a way to save a life and keep someone who's in emotional distress from throwing a baby in a dumpster, I'm all for it."

There are now 232 Safe Haven Baby Box locations in 16 states. Monica Kelsey founded Safe Haven Baby Boxes in 2015 on a mission to end infant abandonment.

The organization also provides a confidential National Hotline parents can call for help: 1-866-99BABY1.

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