Amarillo Installs First Safe Haven Baby Box

The new box at Fire Station #9 offers a last-resort lifeline for parents in crisis.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 7:47am

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Amarillo has installed its first Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station #9, providing a safe, anonymous option for parents who are unable to care for a newborn. The box allows parents to surrender their baby without fear of criminal charges, as long as certain conditions are met. The box is part of the national Safe Haven Baby Box movement started by Monica Kelsey, who was left at a hospital by her birth mother after being conceived through sexual assault.

Why it matters

Safe Haven laws exist to prevent the tragic cases of newborns being abandoned or harmed when parents feel they have no other options. The Safe Haven Baby Box in Amarillo offers a compassionate, last-resort solution for parents in crisis, ensuring the baby receives immediate medical care and is placed in the child welfare system.

The details

The Safe Haven Baby Box is located at Fire Station #9 in Amarillo. When a parent opens the box's door, an alarm sounds and first responders arrive within a minute to provide care for the baby. The box is designed like a hospital bassinet and meets all the requirements of Texas' Safe Haven law, which allows parents to surrender a newborn up to 60 days old without fear of criminal charges.

  • The Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station #9 will be dedicated and put into service on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
  • Texas' Safe Haven law has been in effect since 1999.

The players

Monica Kelsey

The founder of the Safe Haven Baby Box movement, who was left at a hospital by her birth mother after being conceived through sexual assault.

Amarillo Fire Department

The local fire department that is hosting the dedication ceremony and installing the new Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station #9.

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What they’re saying

“This Safe Haven Baby Box represents compassion, safety, and a community coming together to protect its most vulnerable.”

— Jason Love, Amarillo Fire Department Community Educator

What’s next

The Amarillo Fire Department will be hosting an opening ceremony on Wednesday, February 4th at 1 pm to dedicate the new Safe Haven Baby Box and put it into service.

The takeaway

The installation of Amarillo's first Safe Haven Baby Box provides a last-resort lifeline for parents in crisis, ensuring newborns are surrendered safely and compassionately rather than being abandoned or harmed. This is a significant step forward for the community in protecting its most vulnerable members.