DAPHNE — Baldwin County's first Safe Haven Baby Box now resides at Daphne Fire Station #5 located at 9909 Milton Jones Road.

Officials gathered in Daphne on Tuesday afternoon in a special ceremony to commemorate the opening of the baby box, which was blessed by the Rev. Connor Plessala. The box itself allows a mother to legally and anonymously surrender their baby within 45 days of birth, all without cameras and with no questions asked. The box is climate-controlled and has three alarms, notifying first responders
immediately when it is activated.

Caitlin Kelly of Safe Haven Baby Boxes said they are the only organization in America that gives parents in crisis an anonymous option to use the Safe Haven law, which became law in Alabama in 2023 through a bill sponsored by Rep. Donna Givens. Givens thanked her fellow Baldwin County delegation members, including Rep. Matt Simpson, for helping her pass the bill during her first session as a representative.

"It's my honor to stand up here today as the one that was able to get this bill across the finish line, but I did not do it myself," Givens said. "First, God was in the center of it. Second, I had great leadership like Representative Matt Simpson and the entire delegation, so I'm excited that Daphne is the first one in Baldwin County."

Along with Daphne becoming the first city in Baldwin County to house a Safe Haven Baby Box, it is also the 18th baby box to be installed in the state of Alabama. More are planned to be installed across Baldwin County in the near future, including in Foley and Spanish Fort.

"I would like to let the mother know that we are 100% committed to the task of getting her baby to the next phase so they can truly begin their life with hope, and to the mom, you have my prayers," Daphne Fire Chief LeAnn Tacon said. "I can imagine that the only decision that will be harder than opening this door will be the decision to close it."