LAKEWAY, Texas — A Central Texas woman is raising money for a Safe Haven Baby Box in the Lakeway area.
Baby boxes provide a safe place for mothers and families in crisis, as an alternative to abandoning their infants.
These boxes can be used because of a new change to Texas law. In 2023, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that allows people to place infants in "newborn safety devices."
In the past few weeks, several babies have been abandoned across the state. Now that the law has changed, some hope that the fear and pressure will decrease and fewer babies will be abandoned.
Right now, there are only two of these boxes in Texas: one in Lubbock and another in Abilene. A fundraiser is being held on Aug. 24 to bring one to Central Texas.
"It's the first one within a couple hundred miles, so not only does this create the chance for us to educate others on the subject, but it also creates the opportunity for a mother to be able to give her baby up and not have to feel seen or any pressure," Safe Haven Baby Boxes advocate Brooke Waugh said.
Waugh previously lived in Indiana, where the boxes were created, and she has seen their success firsthand. Once baby boxes became legal in Texas, she wanted to bring one to Travis County to help serve all of Central Texas.
"I think it's going to make a huge difference. You can see the hundreds of babies that have been saved in Indiana over the years since the boxes have been live. And just the impact it has on the community," Waugh said.
She want the boxes to help, "The mothers that are scared, mothers that are struggling, mothers that can't afford to take care of a baby. This way the baby get placed in a safe place in a safe box."
The goal is to raise $15,000 for the box. The final push will be an online and silent auction at Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery in Spicewood.
Once they raise enough money, Safe Haven will order the box, get it installed and train people to help out.
The organization hopes to continue raising money for future boxes.