TOP STORY OF THE DAY - Brazil's Safe Haven Baby Box marks 110 in Indiana

HAYLEY COOPER PHOTO - Mayor Brian Wyndham and Linda Znachko, founder of He Knows Your Name Ministry, spoke to the crowd during the Safe Haven Baby Box blessing and unlocking on Monday, November 27.

On Monday, a supportive crowd of donors and city officials (who have been working on this effort diligently since before COVID-19) gathered for the blessing and unlocking of the Safe Haven Baby Box.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are an extension of the Save Haven Law, a 30-day safe surrender in Indiana that allows mothers to surrender a baby safely and anonymously. The box is climate and weight-controlled.

So far, 36 babies have been surrendered anonymously using the boxes and later adopted.

HAYLEY COOPER PHOTO - The Safe Haven Baby Box, located at the Brazil Fire Department, was unlocked by Fire Chief Jake Bennett and blessed by Brook Reinoehl.

Linda Znachko, founder of He Knows Your Name Ministry, who partners with Safe Haven Baby Boxes, spoke to the crowd, explaining the box gives babies a second chance at life.

"This is here to serve women in crisis 24/7, with an anonymous-safe surrender option," explained Znachko.

An alarm alerts officials when a baby is placed inside the box. Most babies are retrieved in 90 seconds and receive immediate medical care.

HAYLEY COOPER PHOTO - A supportive crowd of donors and city officials (who have been working on this effort diligently since before COVID-19) gathered for the blessing and unlocking of the Safe Haven Baby Box.

According to a report by the Indiana Department of Health, 536 Hoosier babies died before their 1st birthday in 2021; that's nearly 45 babies every month and about ten babies every week.

"It's bringing down the infant mortality rate in our state and making a difference," said Znachko.

The last abandoned baby found deceased in Indiana was baby Amelia, nine years ago on December 28, 2014.

Mayor Brian Wyndham is happy to see Brazil be part of the solution and take the steps to be a more evolved city.

"This is a very progressive move for the city of Brazil, and this has been a long time in the works. It started pre-COVID, and then COVID hit and set us back a couple of years, but we persevered and stayed with it," described Mayor Wyndham. "In today's world, unfortunately, there's a need for this."

The box also has a crisis hotline to help connect mothers with counselors.

Call 1-866-99-baby-1 if you need help or want to discuss your options.