Local baby box dedicated

At a dedication ceremony last Thursday, Duncan became just the third site in Oklahoma to have a Safe Haven baby box installed for scared and overwhelmed parents to anonymously and safely give their infants up with no questions asked.

Spearheaded by local resident Gina Flesher who partnered with Charis Pregnancy Center, other organizations and the city, the baby box was installed at Duncan Firehouse No. 2 at the intersection of D and Chestnut. 

While it may be in Duncan, it is for use by anyone in the area.

“We on the council are super proud and excited to be known for being a city that values life and partners with Charis to help transform the life of children,” said Robert Armstrong, Duncan mayor. 

Mariah Betz of Safe Haven spoke about how the organization began.

“Monica Kelsey started Safe Haven Baby Boxes after learning she had been abandoned and after seeing a baby box in operation in a church in Cape Town, South Africa,” Betz said. “She made it her personal mission to educate others on the safe haven law and to do whatever it takes to save the lives of innocent babies from being abandoned.”

Betz said she met first met Kelsey in 2016 and came on staff full-time with the organization in 2021.

“I don’t have a back story like Monica, but I am very passionate about giving mothers another option to safely surrender their babies anonymously. 

Nationwide, Betz said Safe Haven has helped more than 150 parents safely surrender babies.

District attorney Jason Hicks also spoke to the crowd packed into the fire department bay.

“It’s an honor to stand here to celebrate this baby box dedicated to the community,” Hicks said. “This is a phenomenal thing. It’s a phenomenal moment. What a great thing it is to have people in the community who are willing to take their time and help children, because we know at the end of the day, that’s what life is all about, is investing in our kids. They truly are our future.”

Hicks shared some Bible scriptures and said he could not help but think of the future children that will be placed in the box.

“We’re doing this for a future generation,” Hicks said. “There is not a throwaway child anywhere in any community and to be able to help the parents of these children who feel that they have no other choice but to leave their child with somebody else is a good thing and there will be a reward in heaven for doing this.” 

Hicks thinks the baby box is a sign that the community is willing to reach out a hand and help in a time of need.

“We’re looking at a situation where these children are going to be taken into a home and loved, and we know this world is dark and it’s getting darker every day,” Hicks said. “We see this as an act of kindness. We see it as an act of generosity.”

Hicks then prayed for the dedication of the box.

Betz then declared the baby box open. Babies up to 30 days old can be surrendered with no prosecution.

“It is now open for women in the community and beyond,” Betz said. “This offers no shame, no blame and no names.”