RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A newborn baby was safely and legally surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Racine -- marking the first time in Wisconsin history this has happened. 

The infant was placed anonymously in the temperature-controlled Baby Box at a Racine Fire Department station. 

Officials say the baby was swiftly attended to by first responders and is now on the path to find a permanent home through the state's adoption system. 

“This mother’s decision was not abandonment—it was an act of love,” said Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. “She chose life. She chose safety. She chose hope.”

This Safe Haven Baby Box was installed in December of 2024, and created to give mothers in crisis a safe, anonymous, and judgement-free option when they feel they have none. 

The Safe Haven Baby Box in Racine is one of seven across Wisconsin. 

"This first surrender in Wisconsin is more than a statistic. It’s a legacy in motion.

It’s a mother’s silent prayer answered. It’s a community’s promise fulfilled.

To the mother: You are seen. You are brave. You are loved."