By: Emma Kelley, EAST Student Contributor (Wynne High School)

Safe Haven Baby Boxes were created to protect the lives of abandoned infants. Monica Kelsey, the CEO and founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, was inspired to create the organization because she herself was an abandoned infant. Her personal experience drives her mission to eliminate illegal infant abandonment both nationally and globally.

This mission has inspired many, including the Warren High School EAST program. Students Brian Garcia, Natalie Gregriro, and Amy Dominguez, led creating and operating the project and have worked closely with community partners to bring a Baby Box to Southeast Arkansas. 

“We genuinely hope the Baby Box is never needed, but we are proud to have played a role in bringing this resource to Southeast Arkansas,” Dominguez said. “If it ever does save a life, even once, every hour of work we put in will have been worth it.” 

This group recognized the urgent need for a Baby Box in their area after learning the heartbreaking statistics surrounding infant abandonment. With the nearest Baby Boxes located more than an hour away, they began taking action. They reached out to every necessary resource, including the fire department, city council, mayor, police department, local pregnancy center, and local hospital.

Despite the strong support from these partners, funding remained a challenge. The group then discovered an Arkansas state grant that would cover 50% of the cost. With both the support and grant, they were still short, leading them to the next step: fundraising.

Their primary fundraising method was distributing Pledge Cards to local businesses and organizations. Along the way, they learned new skills, creating social media campaigns, designing graphics, editing awareness videos, producing radio commercials, and presenting sponsorship proposals throughout the community. Thanks to the unwavering support of local residents, their efforts exceeded expectations. They raised enough money to purchase the Baby Box and cover its maintenance for five years. 

“Throughout this project, I learned just how strongly our community supports one another,” Project member Heriberto Almaraz said, “Every time we reached out—whether to businesses, organizations, or local leaders—people were willing to help. That level of support showed us that when we work together, we can truly make a difference.”

Since beginning the project in December 2024, the team has experienced a year of tremendous growth. They are currently awaiting the delivery and installation of the Baby Box and hope to see it unveiled by May. As part of this next phase, they will plan and host the ribbon-cutting ceremony, an opportunity that will allow them to learn even more, including how to create promotional items with tools like 3D printers and button makers. Recently, they were honored with the Amazing Grace Award for their partnership with Hope Place and their commitment to upholding its values and goals.

Throughout this project, the group has developed both technically and personally. Their experiences have strengthened their leadership skills, deepened their understanding of government processes, and expanded their sense of empathy. This project demonstrates the powerful impact an EAST project can have. EAST is not only about empowering students through their passions, it is also about creating meaningful, lasting change within many communities. 

“This project gave us a deep sense of purpose,” Garcia said. “It showed us that what we do in EAST extends far beyond our classroom. Our work can create real change—change that will continue long after we graduate. Knowing that our efforts could impact families for years to come has been incredibly meaningful.”