KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It's been around a year since a Safe Haven Baby Box was installed in Knoxville — the first one in the state.
The box was installed at the Knoxville Fire Department's Station 17 on Feb. 17, 2023. The fire station is located at 4804 Western Avenue. It's meant to offer parents a place where they can safely leave newborns while staying anonymous, 24 hours a day. The box is meant to prevent situations involving newborns being illegally abandoned, or worse.
A few months after the Baby Box was installed, a newborn was surrendered at it. The baby was left in the box in June, early in the morning. The newborn was placed in the foster care system and with a family.
KFD said they hope the Baby Box continues to be a resource for families in crisis.
"The parent knows when the baby is dropped off, it's going to be cared for and loved, and there really are resources in our community for when a parent is in crisis and doesn't know what to do," said Mark Wilbanks, the assistant chief of KFD.
The Kingston Fire Department also got its first Safe Haven Baby Box earlier in February — the third in Tennessee.