Monday evening the Plymouth Common Council accepted two donations for the installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Plymouth Fire Department.
A Baby Box is a safety device provided for under the state’s Safe Haven Law and legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender if they are unable to care for their newborn. A Baby Box is installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station or hospital. It has an exterior door that automatically locks upon placement of a newborn inside the Baby Box, and an interior door which allows a medical staff member to secure the surrendered newborn from inside the designated building.
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety approved the request to install a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Plymouth Fire Department the end of July. The boxes are heated and cooled and alarm activated. The average time for a baby to be in the box is about two minutes.
The upfront cost is $10,000 and there is a $200 annual re-certification fee. Promotions of the City Coordinator, Laura Mann is gathering donations to cover the cost so no tax dollars will be involved.
Monday evening the Common Council accepted a $500 donation from New Song Church and $200 from the Knights of Columbus.
Other donations received include $1,000 from Crossroads Church and $2000 from the Elks Lodge. Mann said Make Your Move Home Improvements has volunteered to install the box and pledged to pay the $200 annual re-certification for the next 5 years.
