Spring Fire Department unveils Safe Haven Baby Box Drop-Off Site

THE WOODLANDS, TX – In a bright, morning celebration, members of the community, elected officials, first responders, and the media gathered under a tent to commemorate the unveiling of Spring Fire Department’s Safe Haven Baby Box Drop-Off.

This is the 20th such site in Texas and the 446th in the nation. Safe Haven Boxes are a byproduct of the Safe Haven Law that was passed in 1999 by then-Texas Governor George W. Bush. Also originally known as the ‘Baby Moses Law,’ the state’s Safe Haven law allows parents to safely relinquish unharmed infants to designated locations without fear of prosecution for abandonment or neglect. Texas was the first state in the nation to have a law on the books that allowed parents to relinquish custody of a newborn baby anonymously without fear of arrest.

Parents can use the Safe Haven Law, which allows for the safe surrender of a baby up to 60 days old at designated locations like hospitals, fire stations, or EMS stations without facing criminal charges. The Department of Family and Protective Services will then take custody of the child.

The box interestingly resembles a night deposit box at a bank; a large steel door has been integrated into the outside brick wall of Spring Fire Station No. 71, which is located, along with the SFD Administration Building, at 656 E Louetta Road at Lexington Road in Spring. Access to the box is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Anyone who has decided to leave their child simply approaches the box, opens the door, and places the baby inside. No surveillance cameras are trained on the area, assuring anonymity. Once the outer door is shut again, an alarm sounds throughout the entire building, alerting personnel. Typically, a response will occur within two minutes, even if the station is empty or otherwise engaged and alternate first responders are called.

The interior of the box is climate controlled, able to receive both conditioned air from the interior of the station as well as an internal heater to keep the temperature at 85 degrees around the newborn. From the inside, it is not too dissimilar to an incubator station found in most maternity wards.

The Baby Box program was founded in 2017 by CEO Monica Kelsey, who herself was given up as a newborn baby. Kelsey spoke at the event. “It’s an honor to be here today. We are just getting started. I’m pleased to announce that authorities are about to announce the third baby that has been saved by baby boxes in 2026. We’re working our tails off to ensure that no baby ever dies again.”

In a humorous moment, Kelsey thanked Spring Fire Department Chief Scott Seifert “for letting us cut a hole in your million-dollar fire house.”

Reverent Phil Brown of Immanuel Church in Spring blessed the site and the assembly. Valoree Swanson, Texas House Representative representing District 150, presented a flag flown over the State Capitol building and accompanying proclamation.

“It took a while to get this installed, and we stand behind what Monica and her people are doing one-hundred percent,” Chief Seifert told Woodlands Online. “This is the first such box in our area – the closest other ones are in The Woodlands, Magnolia, and Tomball – and now there’s one in Spring. It’s definitely one more attempt for a baby to survive when their parents are challenged and overwhelmed, and we’re proud to have it here available for them.”

Brett Ligon, the former Montgomery County District Attorney who recently won election to District 4 of the Texas Senate, was also present at the proceedings. “This is my first opportunity as a state senator and I can’t think of something more worthy than this,” he said. “Everywhere around here are people who protect their community – the weak, the young, and the old – and I’m proud to be among them. This is a combination of tax and donated dollars put to their best use.”