1st Texas Baby Box

Texas leads the nation in illegal abandonments which shows that mothers are seeking to keep their identity secret. Senate Bill 780 became effective on September 1, 2023. It allows for the use of "newborn safety devices" to surrender infants. A baby box provides an anonymous option for parents to safely surrender their infant. The box gives parents in crisis hope to rewrite their story giving their innocent newborn a better chance. A surrendered infant will go through a closed adoption, and the parents are free from prosecution. 

West Texans for Life welcomed the opportunity to fund Texas' first Safe Haven Baby Box.

Many thanks to Fire Chief, Cande Flores, & City Manager, Robert Hanna, for welcoming the idea of installing Texas' 1st Safe Haven Baby Box in Abilene at Fire Station #7.

Once approved, West Texans for Life provided all the funding through the donations it received from compassionate individuals in Cisco, Abilene, Sweetwater, and the local Knights of Columbus who understand the importance of valuing & protecting life! Then the installation began under the direction of Sean McNeill.

Nehemiah Abilene, led by Lee Morris, poured the concrete slab. Logan Cole, owner of Shane's Chimney Care, coordinated with Lavariega Masonry to build the brick wall which provides privacy for users of the box. Joe Don Murman, owner of Carl's Electric, installed a photocell light to illuminate the area. Then the Nehemiah Abilene crew returned to install the box which was manufactured by Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc. in Indiana.

Cheryl Armstrong with AAC Security finished the process by adding the alarm system. With the installation complete, the testing began. Firefighters successfully tested the box for 7 consecutive days. A final training was led by Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc.

West Texans for Life