Sunman, IN — Indiana’s 97th Safe Haven Baby Box – and the 137th in the nation – was dedicated Sunday afternoon at the Sunman Area Life Squad building.
The baby box is a device used to allow mothers in crisis to anonymously and securely give up their newborns without fear of arrest or prosecution.
State Rep. Randy Frye, whose House Enrolled Act 1032 – also known as the Baby Box Law — was signed into law two years ago by Gov. Eric Holcomb, emceed the event.
Frye’s legislation received unanimous approval in both the Indiana House and Senate before reaching the Governor’s desk.
The dedication ceremony included remarks by Mary Beth Boone with Madison Mission, Sunman Rescue 20 President Brian Maynard, State Senator Jean Leising, and Ninth District Congresswoman Erin Houchin, who sponsored Frye’s bill in the Indiana Senate when she served in that chamber.
Fr. Shaun Whittington, pastor at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Sunman and an active Rescue 20 member, blessed the Baby Box, and Boone demonstrated how the device works.
While the initial $20,000 to purchase and install the Sunman baby box is paid for, there are still maintenance expenses and other fees that go with it.
Maynard says the life squad is still taking donations.
Two more Safe Haven Baby Boxes are planned in Ripley County – one in Versailles and the other in Milan.
