GATLINBURG, Tenn — Dorothy Johnson lives in Gatlinburg and says Wednesday was a dream come true. That's because she celebrated the blessing of a new Safe Haven Baby Box.
"I was given up at nine months old for adoption and I thought if we'd had a baby box, my mom would have probably stuffed me in it," Johnson said.
Dorothy was the first to share the idea with city leaders, including Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner.
"Just an idea, and then today here it is, yay," Johnson said.
"That's Gatlinburg, that's Gatlinburg, small, knit, tight-knit community," Mayor Werner said.
The box is now one of 26 across the Volunteer state, and the first in Sevier County. Anyone who surrenders an infant can do so anonymously, no questions asked, no name, no consequences. After one minute, firefighters receive

WBIR Channel 10

Action News 5 Crime
NewsChannel 5 Nashville
WVLT
Citizen Tribune
WSMV 4 Nashville
AlterNet