By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Chiefland City Commissioners Monday voted to accept $25,000 in donations from the community to install a Safe Haven Baby Box for newborns that are given up by their mothers.

            The box will be installed in the Chiefland Fire Station. Fire Chief Dwayne King said his firefighters have received the necessary training to protect newborns left in the box.

            City Commissioner Lewrissa Johns, a banker by trade who is active in local social clubs, contacted community members and secured $25,000 in verbal commitments for the Safe Haven Baby Box.

            “The chief has assured me the team has been trained and is ready for it and we do have room for it in our current fire station,” Johns said. “I do hope it’s something we place in the community and never have to use. The Safe Haven Baby Box is very near and dear to my heart. I would love to have it in case we ever do need it.”

            The Safe Haven Baby Box is equipped with an alarm that instantly sends a message to the law enforcement dispatch the moment the door is opened and a newborn is placed inside.

            Responding to a question from Commissioner Norman Weaver as to what would happen if an older baby, saying four months, was placed in the box, King said law enforcement would get involved.

            “We are trained to accept a child at that time, but it’s slightly different because that involves law enforcement. Under state law, we can only accept newborns. If an older child is dropped off, we take possession of the baby. It is considered a Safe Baby and that’s how it is transported to the hospital. That’s the name given to it,” King said.

            King had discussed his plans for a Safe Haven Baby Box about a month ago at a city commission meeting, but he hadn’t found a funding source. Johns took it upon herself to find the necessary donors to pay for the box.

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City of Chiefland Regular Meeting May 22, 2023; Posted May 23, 2023