Woman in Palestine raising funds to install baby box

PALESTINE, Texas (KETK) – An employee with the City of Palestine is raising funds for a baby box to be installed in the city.

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Susane Tingle, human resource assistant for the city, is organizing a community event from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday at Reagan Park to bring awareness to laws and fundraise for a Baby Box.

A baby box is an anonymous tool that is often found at local fire stations since the location has to be manned 24/7.

Tingle said they have raised $9,000 of their $23,000 goal and hopes the event can raise additional funds while bringing awareness to the struggles young families are facing.

“Texas has had 103 abandoned babies since 2017. But with the laws changing here, I see the need for us is going to increase,” Tingle said.

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The mission to get a baby box in Palestine is personal, because Tingle said her granddaughter was adopted into her family after being left in an Indiana baby box.

“It breaks my heart that Texas has so many [abandoned babies] and that we don’t have a single box installed in our state yet.  The changing of the abortion laws is only going to make these numbers rise,” Tingle said.

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