FOLEY — Foley Fire chief Joey Darby announced that Kids to Love has offered to pay more than enough to install a Safe Haven Baby Box.
Kids to Love, an Alabama non-profit founded by Lee Marshall to help foster children from birth to independence, has funded several other boxes across the state. Darby said the organization is prepared to give up to $18,000 to Foley, which is more than the just over $16,000 needed to get started.
"It's good. It's a long time coming," Darby told 1819 News. "We learned pretty early on that it was an involved process and trying to make sure that I had all the ducks in a row because it is a complete project. With the funding and the donations, we have all that together to finally be able to go before the council."
The city council approved a resolution supporting the Baby Box and the ongoing costs of monitoring the box.
Darby addressed the council on Tuesday, saying several other local organizations have offered assistance, including Summit Church, 1-800-BOARDUP and Hunter Security, Inc.
The Foley box could be the 16th installed in the state. The boxes allow mothers with nowhere to turn to surrender their infants for up to 45 days, no questions asked.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes, LLC. owns the box, but cities lease them.
"Safe Haven is building their own box, and what they're telling me is their turnaround time is really quick," Darby said.
There is no estimated date for the box's installation, but Darby looks forward to offering the option to parents in need.
"I hope it's never used, and there's never a need," he said. "But knowing that we save the life of a child and probably a mother, it's a win all the way around."
The City plans to host a ribbon-cutting event at Fire Station 1 on installation day to promote the box and educate the public.
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