ROCKY TOP, Tenn. — Rocky Top Fire Department is the 15th location in the state and third in Anderson County to receive a Safe Haven Baby Box. The fire department commemorated the new Baby Box Thursday with a ceremony.
"This is them being proactive in this movement across America of, you know, babies are being found once every three days. They don't want to be a part of that statistic, and so they're being proactive and I couldn't be prouder for Rocky Top to join the Baby Box movement," said Monica Kelsey, the CEO Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
Kelsey said she was abandoned as an infant, just two hours after she was born. She said even though the boxes are meant to be a last resort option, keeping babies safe is the priority.
"This is a last resort option. It's not a first option, we don't want them to choose this first. But if they don't have any other options left, this is what we would rather see a parent use than the dumpster down the street," she said.
The boxes allow complete anonymity for parents who may be concerned about judgment.
"When a parent says, 'I want what's best for my child and that's not me,' we should be picking her up not pushing her down," said Kelsey.
The other boxes in Anderson County are at the Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Clinton Fire Department.