The Eureka Fire Protection District is the third agency in the state to provide a Safe Haven Baby Box, thanks to donations from civic and religious organizations and local businesses.
The box is at House 2, 1815 West Fifth St., in Eureka and allows parents in crisis to anonymously surrender their infant.
More than 75 community members, in addition to fire personnel, gathered on March 19 for the unveiling and blessing of the box.
“I’m very impressed with the number of people that showed up, but I think at the same time a large number of people made this possible,” Chief Scott Barthelmass said. “The community recognizes there is a need for mothers in crisis. It takes a community to make the community safe.”
The Safe Haven Baby Box organization, founded by Monica Kelsey, is based in Woodburn, Ind., and facilitates legal child surrenders at local agencies and operates a national crisis hotline.
Under Missouri law, parents may surrender their infants up to 45 days old at any hospital, fire station, ambulance house or police station with no legal repercussions.
Kelsey said she was surrendered by her mother as an infant and founded the organization to support mothers in crisis and prevent child abandonment.
There are now 320 baby boxes in 19 states.
“I stand on the front lines of this ministry as one of these kids who wasn’t lovingly and safely and legally and anonymously placed in a Safe Haven Baby Box,” Kelsey said. “This is my legacy, and I am now their voice. I will forever walk with these moms as they choose something safe for their children. I’ll forever walk with these kids and show them their worth.
“Thank you for allowing us to put a hole in your million-dollar firehouse,” Kelsey said to Barthelmass and retired Chief Greg Brown. “We really appreciate it.”
The baby box is located to the right of the house’s public entrance. An opening on the other side of the wall is in the crew lounge area and allows personnel to quickly retrieve an infant from the box.
Community collaboration
Brown said Rachel Anderson, a board member of Tri-County Birthright, stopped by the fire district in February 2024 with information about the Safe Haven Baby Box. Brown began reading about the program and thought it would be the right fit for the district. He called Mehlville Fire Protection District Chief Brian Hendricks to learn more.
Earlier that month, Mehlville Fire received its first infant, surrendered at just a few hours old, using the baby box. Mehlville Fire was the first entity in Missouri to install a baby box at its House 2, 5434 Telegraph Road in south St. Louis County in August 2023, and Big River Ambulance installed a box at its House 1, 6321 Lorens Lane, in Cedar Hill in February.
“I felt it was a really good idea in that it provides another option to simply abandoning a baby,” Brown said. “For somebody who is in trouble and is looking for a way out, this is an option that hopefully is safe for the baby.”
Brown took the idea to the Board of Directors, who approved it as long as taxpayer funds were not used in implementing the program. Brown and Anderson then got to work raising money.
Anderson said they were able to raise about $18,000 in eight months.
“Everyone came out of the woodwork to contribute, particularly some of our civil and religious organizations,” she said.
Brown gave certificates of appreciation to the organizations, businesses and individuals that helped make the baby box possible during the ceremony.
He also gave special thanks to Tri-County Birthright, the Most Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus #3511, and the Eureka Lions Club, which were top contributors with each donating $5,000.
Along with one-time monetary contributions, Eureka Fire also received ongoing funding assistance and help installing the box.
Central Baptist Church agreed to pay the monthly maintenance fee for the alarm system; Waddell Concrete Inc. of Eureka installed a concrete pad leading to the box; and carpenter Jeff Tubb also provided his services and supplies to help install the box.
The Rev. Dennis Gard, who is Central Baptist Church’s pastor, said members of his church created a special committee to raise funds for the ongoing maintenance fee. He said the maintenance fee is $25 per month.
“It’s a glorious day to know that a future life may be saved due to the dedication of a community that has come together to make sure this can happen,” he said.
“I’ve been living in the Eureka community my whole life and I served the community as a first responder for 43 years,” Brown said. “This community has never ever disappointed me with their support for good projects, good programs, things to help people.”
The baby box was dedicated in memory of Steven Feder, a longtime supporter of Eureka Fire and member of the Knights of Columbus, who died on April 26, 2023.
“(Feder) was a strong, pro-life person, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of Sacred Heart Church and a strong supporter of our first responders in this community,” Brown said. “He was a very wonderful man.”
While Brown retired at the end of 2024, before the box was complete, he said he fully trusts Barthelmass and fire district crews to maintain the box and keep the program alive.
“You know what, if it never gets used, great, if it does get used, even better,” Brown said. “What’s the value of one human life? If somebody needs that, and they’re in a position where they’re going to potentially leave their baby somewhere, what better place to have to leave a baby?”
How it works
Barthelmass explained that the climate-controlled, ventilated box has an alarm system that is triggered if the front door is opened. The alarm alerts the House 2 crew, emergency dispatch and Barthelmass on his cell phone if an infant is placed in the box’s bassinet.
A camera on the inside of the box is synced to Barthelmass’ phone, always showing him an inside view.
Barthelmass said if the fire crew is away on an emergency call, he can redirect the district’s deputy chiefs to care for the infant quickly since the camera sends instant alerts to his phone.
Eureka Fire crews would provide any necessary emergency medical care to the infant before transporting the baby to an area hospital for more treatment. Barthelmass said the crew recently underwent training on the state’s legal surrender process, which establishes a policy and checklist the crew must follow.
Barthelmass said the phone tree regarding the baby box is six numbers long.
“It will go as deep as it has to,” he said.
For information about Safe Haven Baby Box, visit shbb.org. Safe Haven’s 24-hour crisis hotline is 866-992-2291.