Walking with Moms in Need - Diocese of Venice

Walking with Moms in Need, a nationwide program initiated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, operates at the parish level, to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need. It works to ensure that any woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, or parenting in difficult circumstances, can turn to her local Catholic Church and be connected with the resources she needs. As Pope Francis reminds us, parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Visit Walking with Moms for more.

A Message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops about Walking with Moms in Need

A Message from Bishop Frank J. Dewane about Walking with Moms in Need

Safe Haven Baby Box Now Available in Naples

A Safe Haven Baby Box has been installed in Collier County offering a safe, last resort for parents in crisis to surrender newborns anonymously, preventing abandonment and ensuring infant safety.

The box is situated at the front entrance of Collier County EMS Station 76, 990 Logan Boulevard, near Vanderbilt Beach Road, in North Naples, and was formally blessed and made operational as of December 19, 2025.

A Safe Haven Baby Box provides a secure, anonymous alternative for parents who feel unable to care for their newborn and wish to surrender their infant, as outlined under Florida’s Safe Haven Law. (Florida’s Safe Haven Law can be found here.) The Safe Haven Baby Box is climate-controlled, alarm-protected, contains a clear padded bassinet and is designed to immediately alert EMS personnel so that an infant receives prompt care immediately.

Father Bob Kantor, Pastor at nearby St. Agnes Parish stated: “The Safe Haven Baby Box is another avenue to protect life in our community. It is not only a practical solution to a need but a visible sign in our area of the importance of offering viable alternatives for mothers under stress and a path to life for babies.”

It is hoped the Safe Haven Baby Box can prevent cases of abandonment in trash bins or on the side of the road, which puts a newborn child at imminent risk of death, as well as criminal charges being sought against the parents. It also presents a life-saving alternative to abortion.

There are currently more than 300 Safe Haven Baby Boxes across the United States, including seven in Florida. Nationwide, 73 babies under two months old have been safely surrendered through the boxes. Since the Florida Safe Haven Law was implemented in 2000, 436 babies have been surrendered, and at least three have been surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box.