Stacey Davis, executive director of Right To Life, recently launched a campaign to raise money to install a Safe Haven Baby Box in Owensboro.
“There should be one everywhere. The closest one to us is in Evansville, Indiana,” Davis said.
Since the start of 2022, Davis has been focusing on raising awareness of the positive impact of installing the potentially life-saving device in this community.
“Something people may misunderstand in the pro-life movement is thinking that we only care about the unborn,” Davis said. “What we really believe about protecting life echoes the entire mission of Right to Life, from the moment of conception until natural death.”
Baby boxes are now approved for the state of Kentucky after House Bill 155 was passed this year. With several baby boxes installed in the Louisville area, Davis hopes to see the numbers grow even closer to home.
“It’s important that these babies are not just thrown in dumpsters. Our goal is to save lives,” Davis said.
Baby boxes are installed at specific locations such as a hospital or fire station, utilizing an alarm system to signal that a baby has been placed inside. This option is a safe alternative for mothers who have decided they are not ready or able to take care of their newborns.
While researching the process of bringing a baby box close to Owensboro, Davis discovered Monica Kelsey, a motivational speaker who was abandoned as an infant and became a pro-life advocate and speaker.
Kelsey’s website says, “Children such as myself still have immense value. It is about helping both mother and child, not one over the other.”
Kelsey founded the organization Safe Haven Baby Boxes, the only safe haven organization that saves babies through electronically monitored boxes. She is a firefighter and medic who loves the mission of protecting others.
Kelsey also wrote the book Blessed to have been Abandoned: The Story of the Baby Box Lady, about her life story, from abandonment as an infant to her journey with the pro-life movement.
Davis is excited to welcome Kelsey as the keynote speaker for the Right to Life banquet at the Convention Center on Oct. 13.
“We are honored to have her come to Owensboro and share her story with us,” Davis said. “Ultimately, we know her story will impact many, and we want to continue to raise awareness.”
Davis hopes additional fundraising efforts will allow them to partner with others in the community to support the outreach.
“My goal is to raise $15,000, just for installation. There is still a cost to run it each year because it has to be monitored 24/7,” Davis said.
For more information about RTL or to donate to this project, visit RTLO.org.
