• A new Safe Haven Baby Box is now available at BKP Ambulance District in Kenton, offering parents in crisis a safe and anonymous option to surrender a newborn.
• OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital provided funding for the box, partnering with BKP Ambulance District and Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
• The climate-controlled box alerts first responders when a newborn is placed inside, who can retrieve the baby within minutes for evaluation at Hardin Memorial.

A new Safe Haven Baby Box is now available in Kenton, providing parents experiencing a crisis with a safe and anonymous option to surrender a newborn.

The community gathered Tuesday, Sept. 15, at BKP Ambulance District to celebrate the installation and blessing of the new box. Community members and first responders attended the ceremony, which included remarks from Kenton Mayor Lynn Webb and City Council President Joel Althauser. Pastor Eric Risner of Abundant Life Assembly of God Church offered a blessing prayer for the box and the families it may serve.

OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital provided funding to bring the box to the community, working with BKP Ambulance District and Safe Haven Baby Boxes to make the resource available.

“Mothers have a nice anonymous, safe surrender,” said Shelly Prater with BKP Ambulance District. “We've always had a safe haven law so they could walk into any fire department or hospital and hand the baby over, but there's no anonymity when it comes to that.”

The box is installed on the exterior of the BKP facility, allowing a parent to surrender a newborn who is 30 days old or younger without entering the building or speaking directly with another person. Its climate-controlled chamber remains at 70 degrees year-round, and an alarm immediately alerts BKP first responders. Prater said staff can retrieve the baby within five minutes, after which the infant will be taken to Hardin Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

For Hardin Memorial, the project extends its commitment to supporting the community beyond the hospital and working alongside local emergency services.

“Contributing to this effort illustrates that it's a partnership with everyone in the community,” said Charity Coffman, director of nursing at Hardin Memorial. “Our commitment to care reaches beyond the walls of the hospital. It's connecting with the community.”

Coffman said the partnership will continue beyond the installation of the box, with associates already discussing future opportunities to support the effort. Ongoing operations of Safe Haven Baby Boxes are funded through donations.

“It's a shared vision,” she said. “And I think it's a wonderful illustration of all the values that we support, a safe haven for the little ones who don't have a place.”

The box is the 29th Safe Haven Baby Box in Ohio and the 471st in the nation.

“We have a lot of mothers in crisis,” said Prater. “Any kind of option that's going to help someone, that's why I do what I do.”

The Kenton Safe Haven Baby Box is located at BKP Ambulance District, 439 S. Main St., Kenton.

“This is important in every community,” said Mariah Betz, assistant project coordinator for Safe Haven. “You just never know when a crisis is going to strike. So the more the boxes that we have available, the better we are.”

Now, just months after completing her service with the Peace Corps, she’s back home in Kenton, the community where she grew up, as a nurse in the emergency department at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital.

“I’ve always had a desire to travel and help other people,” Hunt said. “When I heard about the Peace Corps and the opportunity to learn from another culture while also serving a community, I was sold.”

Her assignment placed her in a village of about 300 schoolchildren, where she lived with a host family and worked in a combined first- through 12th-grade school. Her role focused on health education, helping students learn about topics ranging from hygiene and nutrition to sexual education.

“I wasn’t there just to deliver information,” Hunt said. “It was also to learn from the community about their culture and collaborate with teachers on what worked best for the students.”

She especially enjoyed working with younger children and helping introduce new classroom technology like smart boards and interactive learning tools.

“Albania is such a beautiful country with such a rich culture,” she said. “The people are incredibly hospitable. You could just be walking down the street and someone would hand you an apple from their tree or invite you into their home for coffee.”

Living in a developing country also gave her a firsthand look at the challenges communities can face when access to healthcare and resources is limited. In her village, there was a small community health center, a nurse who stayed on call for emergencies and a hospital located nearly 45 minutes away.

That experience shaped the way she now thinks about patient care back home.

When her Peace Corps service ended in December, Hunt knew she wanted to return close to family and the community where she grew up. She joined Hardin Memorial Hospital in January.

“It was exciting to come back and give back to the same community that raised me,” she said. “Being in Albania helped me realize how important it is to connect with people and support your community.”

Today, she says those lessons continue to influence how she cares for patients in the emergency department.

“Usually when someone shows up in the ER, there’s more to the story,” she said. “There are often other things that have affected their health over time. I think my experience taught me to really listen, connect with patients and understand where they’re coming from.”

She also believes strong community-driven care plays an important role in helping patients feel seen and supported close to home.

“It helps people trust their local hospital,” she said. “Knowing there are people here who understand them and care about them makes a huge difference.”

While she’s grateful for the experiences she gained abroad, she says she doesn’t see herself as bringing something extraordinary back to Kenton, but rather joining a team already deeply committed to caring for the community.

“When I started at Hardin Memorial, it was incredible to see the care patients are already receiving,” Hunt said. “The staff really works to make sure patients feel supported when they walk out those doors. I’m just excited to join in that passion that already exists here.”

To learn more about care and services at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, click here.

"Dr. Kaapuraala's extensive background in family medicine and his commitment to patient-centered care distinguish him as a valuable asset to our team," said Jim Parobek, president of OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital and OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. “We are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on our community.”

"I've been wanting to join OhioHealth because it's an amazing organization," Dr. Kaapuraala said. "What stands out to me is OhioHealth's strong commitment to quality of care and patient safety. I value the high standards they set, the culture they foster, and I feel I would be a great fit." 

Dr. Kaapuraala graduated in 2003 from Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad in India. From there, he pursued higher studies in England before completing his residency in family medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis in 2011. His journey brought him to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he practiced hospitalist medicine with Access Medical.”

"I’ve always worked in rural America, and I love that because it’s always like a small family," Dr. Kaapuraala shared. “You see one family member; the word passes on and then you see everybody.”

Dr. Kaapuraala said his transition to OhioHealth will allow him to continue serving patients with the same continuity of care while being part of a system that supports both providers and communities they serve.

“The care that my current patients will get from me will be the same. It might be a different setting, but everything will be the same,” Dr. Kaapuraala said.

As he begins this new chapter, Dr. Kaapuraala is eager to form connections with new patients at OhioHealth and bring them the same compassionate, high-quality care.

“For the patients who are new to me, I would like to say that my standard of care what you would want to expect from someone who is working for an organization like OhioHealth.”

Dr. Kaapuraala will be in the office full-time, Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment with him, please click here or call 419-673-8689.  

“When I was a child, that was the only thing for girls to do,” Cooke explained. “There were no sports. Nothing. So my parents took me to the dance studio. My mother loved to dance.” 

She started at age 3. Now, fast forward, she has been choreographing performances in Marion at the Palace Theatre for 48 years. 

“It’s near and dear to our hearts, my family’s heart,” Cooke shared. “The Palace Theatre is the crown jewel of Marion, Ohio. And I performed there when I was in high school and said to myself, ‘well I want to do this someday.’ And so here we are.” 

But this summer, her passion for bringing performances to life at the Palace was paused. She had a bad fall. 

“When I fell, it was the last rehearsal of our summer musical, Annie, and it just killed me not being able to go [see the show] after all that hard work.” 

She broke several bones and spent a week at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. 

“My doctor, God love him, who operated on my arm was playing ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’ when I entered surgery.” 

After surgery, Cooke’s recovery plan would require rehab. That’s when she learned about the Swing Bed Program at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital in Kenton. 

“Never heard of the Swing Bed Program, none of it,” she said. “It was phenomenal, the care I got. I wasn’t just a name. I was somebody.” 

“We have 18 beds here,” said Ryan Newland, Administrative Nurse Manager at Hardin Memorial Hospital. “We are a Critical Access Hospital which is what allows us to have a Swing Bed designation.” 

Newland explained you can think of the Swing Bed Program like a bridge – connecting a patient between a hospital stay and returning home. The goal is for a patient to return home as soon as possible. Sometimes it’s possible within a few days or a couple of weeks. And that can make all the difference when it comes to insurance coverage. 

“I’ve been a part of this program since the beginning, October of 2022,” explained Erica Wilcox, RN Care Manager at Hardin Memorial Hospital. “One of the big things that I have learned is the positive response from payers, insurance companies. We are getting the job done, getting their members healthy, in a short period of time and also really decreasing that readmission risk within 30 days that all major insurance companies look at.” 

The Swing Bed Program at Hardin Memorial Hospital provides a private room for patients to receive individualized attention and care by way of a low nurse to patient ratio and progressive therapy. On top of that, the nursing team goes above and beyond for each patient. 

“If they have a birthday or special occasion, we usually celebrate it,” said Jennifer Gresham, Registered Nurse. “Sometimes we celebrate on the last day they are here. We try to make it feel like they are part of the family.” 

“The patient has to do the hard work, deal with the pain, deal with the soreness. They are doing the hard work but it’s rewarding for us to see their success and ability to return home,” said Tim Plumley, Director of Rehab Services at Hardin Memorial Hospital. 

“What surprised me was the fact that it was so all encompassing. And they are such a family there, they are such a team,” said Clara Cooke. “I hate that [the fall] happened. I hate every ounce of it. But I couldn’t have been in better hands.” 

Clara Cooke will be back at the Palace Theatre in time for a beloved community tradition: The Christmas Show. 

“We knew that she really wanted to get back on that stage, and she came in with the right mindset. We’re happy to have helped her get there, Plumley said.” 

“It’s time for me to get back,” Cooke said. “It’s my legacy.” 

• Kenton: OPG Kenton Medical Office & OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital parking lot, 75 Washington Blvd., Kenton, OH 43326 (Enter off of Memorial Ave and exit onto E. Franklin St.) 
• Ada: ONU parking lot between Rite Aid (now closed) and Starbucks, 602 S Main St., Ada, OH 45810 (Enter off of Main Street and exit onto College Ave.) 
• Mount Victory: Ridgemont Local School District, 560 W Taylor St., Mount Victory, OH 43340 (Enter drive on east side of school.) 

This initiative aims to reduce medication misuse and environmental hazards by ensuring proper disposal of medications. 

Accepted items include: 

• Expired or unused prescription and over-the-counter medications, including medicated lotions, creams, sunscreens, and inhalers. 
• Medications from personal homes only (no medications from physician, dentist, or veterinary offices). 
• Syringes and needles will not be accepted. 
   

“This has historically been a great event for the community,” said Jake Abbott, PharmD, RPh, BCPS, Pharmacy Coordinator at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital. “Last year we saw 110 cars and were able to remove over 120 pounds of expired/unused medications from Hardin County.” 

The event is sponsored by OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, ONU HealthWise, and Ridgemont FFA. 
 

For hundreds of people, it’s been a lifeline and now – there’s one event coming up that’s going the extra mile. 

On April 22nd, the OhioHealth North Market Mobile Mammography Unit will be stationed at Home Run Memorial Park in Kenton, Ohio. The mobile unit will be operating from 9am – 2pm, which lines up with the scheduled food distribution event from noon - 2pm. 

The North Market Mobile Mammography Unit aims to eliminate barriers for women who need access to vital healthcare screenings by bringing mammography technology directly into communities like Kenton. This upcoming event is thanks to support from the Ohio Northern University student group, ONU Rural Scholars Project – Pharm D. 

Appointments are required. Insurance will be billed. For patients without insurance, let scheduling know when you call to make an appointment. 

Call (614) 566-1111 or 1 (877) 566-1112 to make your appointment. Please mention North Mobile and April 22nd during your call. 

This dual event will take place at Home Run Memorial Park, located at 13625 OH 292 Kenton, Ohio 43326. 

To learn more about the North Market Mobile Mammography Unit, click here.

“Crazy. I had no idea the number of people in this community [who are affected]. I know hunger is a global issue, I had no idea how close to home it really was,” Byal said. “It seems like the need is so much greater than I could have ever imagined.” 

She said she felt the need to act, after seeing the number of cars lined up at a recent food distribution event that happens monthly thanks to a partnership between the West Ohio Food Bank and OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital. 

Leaders from the West Ohio Food Bank said they are seeing a spike in the number of people who are turning to their services. They said they haven’t seen numbers like this since the height of the pandemic. 

Byal didn’t know where to begin, but she knew the need was urgent. She thought about starting a Blessings Box because she saw community members recently post about them on social media. The idea, she explained, is a small weather protected, publicly accessible space where people can take what they need or leave what they can donate. Boxes can contain shelf stable food items and baby formula, for example. 

There was a small, wooden box near the medical campus parking lot outside Hardin Memorial Hospital. Byal thought it would be the perfect spot to set one up. 

Byal reached out for permission from hospital leadership – and in return received an outpouring of support to get it set up and stocked. She said it was a team effort to make her vision a reality. She checks on it daily—and in just a matter of weeks she already sees how often it needs to be re-filled. 

“The need is now,” she said. “I’ve tried to start re-thinking and re-programming to think tomorrow is now. I need to do something now.” 

Byal and other OhioHealth associates work to keep the box stocked with pasta, jars of sauce, cans of tuna, baby formula, and more. Byal’s hope is to eventually include other items like soap and shampoo. 

Byal said she is planning to retire later this year, and she hopes the Blessings Box will leave a lasting impact. 

The Blessings Box is located near the parking lot of Hardin Memorial Hospital at 912 E Franklin St. in Kenton. 

The West Ohio Food Bank and Hardin Memorial Hospital host a food distribution event on the 4th Tuesday of every month at Home Run Memorial Park in Kenton from noon – 2 p.m. 

Additional help can be found through OhioHealth's Community Resource Directory by clicking here. 
 

This year’s event is happening on Saturday April 27th from 9:00 a.m. - noon at the following locations: 

• OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital: 75 Washington Boulevard, Kenton 
• Ada: South Main Street and East College Avenue parking lot 
• Forest City Building: 211 West Lima Street, Forest 
• Ridgemont School: 560 West Taylor Street, Mount Victory 
   

Area residents can use this event to safely dispose of unwanted or expired medication. The locations are set up to allow residents to drive up and drop off, without having to leave their vehicles. 

Pharmacy students from Ohio Northern University will be volunteering to get out in the community and help provide information. 

Residents can drop off expired or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, medicated lotions, and sunscreens. Only medications from personal homes will be accepted. Medications from a physician, dentist, or veterinary offices will not be accepted. No syringes will be accepted. 
 
About OhioHealth 

Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church. 

Serving its communities since 1891, OhioHealth is a family of 35,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 15 hospitals, three joint-venture hospitals, one managed-affiliate hospital, 200+ ambulatory sites and other health services spanning a 50-county area. For more information, visit ohiohealth.com.