City leaders, first responders and community members gathered on Tuesday to dedicate a new Safe Haven Baby Box in Leesburg, marking a major step in expanding resources for parents in crisis and protecting newborns.

The installation is the first in Lake County and 17th in the state.

The project was led by the Amanda McClea, president of the Leesburg Sunrise Rotary Club, which began planning the initiative three years ago as part of a focus on maternal and child health.

“This is such an exciting day for a lot of us,” Amanda says. “We’re honored to stand alongside our first responders, our community leaders and all of the supporters who have made this a life-saving resource a reality.”

Leesburg City Commissioner Alan Reisman reflected on the timeline to bring the project to completion.

“It’s a day that took 938 days to come to fruition,” Reisman says during the ceremony, recognizing the work of city staff, first responders and partners who helped make the installation possible.

Leesburg Mayor Allyson Berry thanked donors and community partners, noting the broader impact the program could have statewide.

“I look forward to having this blessing and look forward to, hopefully, one day, having one in every one of our fire stations in the state of Florida,” she says.

State Rep. Nann Cobb, who helped advance legislation allowing baby boxes in Florida, emphasized the importance of the Safe Haven law.

“A parent may anonymously surrender an unharmed infant up to 30 days old, without fear of prosecution,” Cobb says. “These measures transform moments of crisis into opportunities of hope.”

The baby box is a secure, climate-controlled device installed at Leesburg Fire Station 61 on Canal St. near downtown. When an infant is placed inside, an alarm immediately alerts first responders, ensuring a rapid and compassionate response.

Leesburg Fire Chief Ryan Henry says the addition represents more than just a new piece of equipment.

“Today is not just about dedicating a box,” he says. “It’s about dedicating ourselves to the protection of life. This box does not represent abandonment. It represents protection.”

Officials say the goal is to provide a safe, anonymous option for parents who may feel they have nowhere else to turn.

“To any parent who may one day stand before this box, know this — you are not alone,” Henry says. “There is no judgment here, only compassion, only safety and only hope.”

Jessi Getrost, representative from Safe Haven Baby Box, the national organization behind the initiative, says the program continues to grow across the country as communities look for ways to prevent infant abandonment and save lives. To date, the organization has helped 186 babies surrendered.

“Even if a baby box is only used one time, it is worth it,” Cobb says. “Because that is one life saved.”

Greg Snow of Electric Works and Jake Voll of SS&Si Dealer Network, both who were instrumental in the installation process, also thanked everyone for their support.

Amanda closed the ceremony, saying she hoped to speak for the voice that might never be heard — and for the one that now has a chance, thanks to the baby box.

The event ended with a prayer of blessing by Pastor Terry Mahan of The Fathers House Church.

The Leesburg installation now serves as a resource not only for the city, but for surrounding communities as well, offering a final option in moments of crisis and a chance at a safe future for the most vulnerable.