Leesburg Dedicates Safe Haven Baby Box

New anonymity resource for parents in crisis opens at local fire station

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Leesburg, Florida is hosting a dedication and blessing ceremony for a new Safe Haven Baby Box at the local fire station. The baby box provides a safe and anonymous way for parents in crisis to surrender a healthy infant up to 30 days old, in accordance with Florida's Safe Haven law. The project was made possible through a community partnership that raised nearly $27,000 to install the monitored 24/7 baby box.

Why it matters

Safe Haven laws allow parents to legally and safely surrender their newborns without fear of prosecution, providing an important resource for parents in difficult situations. The new baby box in Leesburg gives local residents another option to safely surrender an infant, potentially saving lives and preventing dangerous abandonments.

The details

The public dedication and blessing ceremony for Leesburg's new Safe Haven Baby Box will be held on Tuesday, March 24 at 1 p.m. at Leesburg Fire Station 61. The baby box is monitored 24/7, and when opened, an alert is sent to first responders. The project was made possible through a community partnership between the city, Leesburg Sunrise Rotary, Leesburg Fire Rescue, and other local organizations and residents.

  • The dedication ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

Leesburg Fire Rescue

The local fire department that will house and monitor the new Safe Haven Baby Box.

Leesburg Sunrise Rotary

The local Rotary club that partnered with the city and other organizations to raise funds for the Safe Haven Baby Box project.

Amanda McLea

The president of the Leesburg Sunrise Rotary club.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This project was made possible through a community partnership with the city, Leesburg Sunrise Rotary, Leesburg Fire Rescue, other partners and residents, who together raised nearly $27,000.”

— Amanda McLea, Leesburg Sunrise Rotary President

What’s next

The new Safe Haven Baby Box will be available for use by parents in crisis starting immediately after the dedication ceremony on March 24.

The takeaway

Leesburg's new Safe Haven Baby Box provides a crucial resource for parents facing difficult circumstances, allowing them to safely and anonymously surrender their newborns in accordance with Florida law. This community-driven project demonstrates the power of local partnerships to address important social issues and potentially save lives.