LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — A new Safe Haven Baby Box will be coming to Lake of the Ozarks this spring, where mothers who are unable or unwilling to care for babies up to 45 days old may place the baby, where it will be taken and cared for.
The box will be installed thanks to help from generous donors; State Representative Jeff Vernetti helped spearhead the fundraising effort.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes provide a secure, anonymous, and temperature-controlled environment for parents in crisis to safely surrender newborns up to 45 days old, in accordance with Missouri's Safe Haven law. When a baby is placed in the box, an alert is immediately sent to first responders, ensuring prompt medical care.
Rep. Vernetti personally raised $16,000 in private donations from local businesses to fully fund the acquisition and installation of the box, which will be at the Mid-County Fire Protection District in Camdenton.
Donors included the Preserve at Sycamore Creek Apartments, Thomas Construction, and Scott's Concrete. In addition, Thomas Construction has committed to partnering with Safe Haven Baby Boxes to install the unit and will donate labor and services for the project.
"I heard about the amazing work Safe Haven is doing in Missouri and throughout the country and felt that we needed to present residents of Camden County and the surrounding communities with this safe alternative to saving lives," said Vernetti, R-Camdenton. "I am proud to work on this project, and I am grateful not only for the support of Mid-County Fire District and the companies who stepped forward to fund this initiative."
Scott Frandsen, Mid-County Fire Chief stated: “We are proud to announce the installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box at Mid-County Fire Protection District Headquarters. Knowing we will now have this resource available, should there ever be a need, brings peace of mind!”
Chad Nugent of Thomas Construction stated, "These Baby Boxes give families a safe choice and could save the lives of our most vulnerable. We’re grateful to Rep. Jeff Vernetti for organizing this and everyone who helped make this possible for our community."
Jane Martin, with Scott’s Concrete, added, "We are very pleased to be a part of the funding for a local Baby Box. Thank you to Rep. Jeff Vernetti for spearheading the project."
This new box will expand access to a compassionate resource for families facing difficult circumstances, joining the growing network of Safe Haven Baby Boxes across Missouri. For more information about Safe Haven Baby Boxes, visit www.shbb.org.
