(Kokomo, IN) - Another newborn was surrendered to a Safe Haven Baby Box. This time down in Kokomo.

 

The two-day-old baby girl appeared in the box at Kokomo’s downtown fire station on Monday. According to the fire department, the mother left a note sharing her love and the hopes she has for her daughter.

 

It’s the fifth time this year a newborn has been safely surrendered in Indiana and the twelfth time nationwide.

 

Baby Boxes are built into a wall where a desperate mom can safely place a newborn. After an alert sounds, first responders get to the baby within minutes. State law allows such a surrender of a baby up to 30 days old without prosecution.

 

There are currently 103 Baby Boxes across the country. That number is about to increase to 104, with the addition of another Baby Box here in La Porte.

 

The Board of Public Works has authorized a grant received from the Department of Homeland Security for $10,000. The newborn safety device will be installed at Fire Station 2 on East Shore Parkway on La Porte’s north side.

 

In 2016 Coolspring Township became the second fire department in the country to install a baby box. Since then, two babies have been surrendered there. Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City also has a baby box.

 

Fire Chief Andy Snyder says the new device should be installed in a few months.