In front, Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty speaks at the dedication event for the new Safe Haven Baby Box. In back are the Rev. Gene Troyer, left and Carrie Berghoff, chief development officer of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. Photo by of the city of Goshen.

News Release

GOSHEN — Indiana’s newest Baby Box, bringing the total to 145, was dedicated and blessed the morning of Friday, March 7, in Goshen.

Approximately 75 people, many of them first responders, attended the event at the Goshen Fire Department’s Central Station, 209 N. Third Street, Goshen. There, a climate-controlled box is available for parents who are unable to care for their infant to anonymously surrender.

The donations of 100 Women Who Care Elkhart County has played an important role in establishing Goshen’s first Safe Haven Baby Box. With a $10,000 grant from the giving circle, this initiative became a reality through an effort that included the city of Goshen, the Goshen Fire Department and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Joanna King started a fund with the Community Foundation to help cover additional costs and Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty said at the dedication ceremony that the project has been 100% funded without using taxpayer dollars.

The Safe Haven Baby Box, located at the Goshen Fire Department, 209 N. Third Street, Goshen, provides a secure and anonymous way for parents in crisis to safely surrender their newborns. This installation brings the nationwide total of baby boxes to 321.

A blessing and dedication ceremony took place at 10 a.m. Friday, March 7, 2025, at the Goshen Fire Department.

A new Safe Haven Baby Box in Goshen allows parents to legally and safely surrender babies if they are unable to care for them. Photo from the City of Goshen.

“Today, as we dedicate the Safe Haven Baby Box, we recognize that saving a life is just the beginning. True care for children involves nurturing families, ensuring access to healthcare, quality education and creating a supportive community. Together, we can ensure every child not only survives but thrives in Goshen,” said Mayor Leichty.

Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, added, “Safe Haven Baby Boxes have changed the landscape for infant safety in Indiana, preventing tragedies and offering safe alternatives. This box is now available for women in this community and beyond. This box offers no shame, no blame and no names.”

State Rep. Joanna King credited Kelsey with contributing to Safe Haven legislation in Indiana. “The legislation that we’ve drafted here in the state of Indiana is now the model legislation that is used throughout the United States when safe haven laws are being looked at,” King said.

The Rev. Gene Troyer, pastor at Restōr Church in Goshen, said, “I believe that we are on the right track when we make room for those who are less capable of handling life and for those that they bring into the world who are so vulnerable.” The Rev. Troyer prayed a blessing on the box prior to a ribbon cutting at Central Station. So far, 33 babies in Indiana have been adopted after being surrendered in a Safe Haven box.

For more information on Safe Haven Baby Boxes, visit Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

The new Safe Haven Baby Box at the Central Station of Goshen Fire Department included remarks by Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty, at podium; Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, left; State Rep. Joanna King, second from left; and the Rev. Gene Troyer of Restōr Church. Also shown is Carrie Berghoff, chief development officer of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. Photo courtesy of the city of Goshen.