Every Monday, the Hendersonville Fire Department tests its Safe Haven baby box to make sure it is working properly.

For more than a year, the box, installed so mothers can anonymously surrender their children, no strings attached, had never been used. Then, in late July, rescue personnel got the alert they'd been making sure would come with all those tests. A newborn had been left in the box for the first time.

"The baby box was installed at our station on April 24, 2024," Hendersonville Fire Chief Scotty Bush said in an email to The Tennessean.

"These parents may never be known by name, but their bravery speaks volumes. We want them to know: their child is safe, cared for and surrounded by love."

Boxes are a vital resource for families and rescue workers, alike, Bush says.

When a bab

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