The purpose of Mother Mentors of Whidbey Island becomes clear when two-year-old Orion greets his friend Betsy O’Neil. “CeCe!” he called out, his face lighting up while waiting with his mom Kelly Dungan on his front porch. O’Neil approached Orion, picked him up, and the blond, curly-headed toddler wrapped his arms around her. Soon afterwards, he asked his mom to lift the hood of the family car and pointed to various engine parts. He looked at ‘CeCe,’ who told him “radiator” and “battery.” These days, mechanical things interest him.

As a working midwife educator, Dungan, a single mom, is grateful for her two-year relationship with O’Neil. Looking for resources when Orion was a newborn, Dungan found Mother Mentors. Meeting with its program director who understood Dungan’s immediate needs, O’Neil was matched with Dungan within a week. 

“For me, it was such a relief to see this person here purely for support,” recalled Dungan. “To speak to my overall experience, this is a mutually beneficial relationship. I’m getting so much out of it. He’s getting so much. It’s really nurturing everybody.” 

For O’Neil, a retired elementary school teacher, her role as a Mother Mentor filled a need to be with young children. 

“I wanted to be of help because those first months are so hard, and it seemed from the beginning that it was helpful for Kelly,” said O’Neil. “I could hold Orion, and we could chat. I didn’t expect this to be as deep as it has been. Now they’re like family. I’m Orion’s grand-friend. He’s in my soul. They both are.” 

Mother Mentors of Whidbey Island was founded in 2009 based on the vision of Kristin Lasher, who recognized new mothers might feel overwhelmed and need guidance. Mother Mentors offers in-home mentorships, which pair a trained mentor with a family; Playscape, a drop-in play and learn program guided by an early childhood facilitator and trained volunteers; and Parent Pantry, a special shopping experience offering free clothing, diapers, and gear to island families. 

Available to children from infancy to five years old, Playscape South—housed in the former South Whidbey Primary School in Langley—and Playscape North—at Whidbey Presbyterian Church in Oak Harbor—are furnished with welcoming interactive stations, including a kitchen, slide, crawling tunnel, and arts and crafts area. While meeting at Playscape, caregivers often forge long-term friendships. 

“Mother Mentors is a life saver,” said Dungan. “Playscape is incredible. To have this place where you can go four days a week, modeling how to be with kids. I felt Playscape was an amazing way to talk about what you’re experiencing, learning, troubleshooting, and sharing.”

Mother Mentors has grown since its 2009 founding, officially becoming a nonprofit in 2012. Jane Bothel joined the team as a volunteer in 2014 and, since April 2025, has served as Executive Director. With previous experience as a project manager, Bothel’s skills in finance and legal issues help the team run smoothly. 

“In the past year and a half, we brought on nine new board members,” said Bothel. “Our board now spans a broad age range. Currently, seven of our board [members] are mothers who are actively raising young children.”

“I came to Playscape, and someone brought me a cup of tea. My children played, and I met my first friends and best friends there. It empowered me. I would say so much of what we do is relationship based. We try to create a warm, comforting presence.”

Tasha Miller found Mother Mentors after moving to Whidbey Island with two young children and a third on the way. 

“I came to Playscape, and someone brought me a cup of tea,” said Miller, who is one of Mother Mentors’ program coordinators. “My children played, and I met my first friends and best friends there. It empowered me. I would say so much of what we do is relationship based. We try to create a warm, comforting presence.”

During the past year, Mother Mentors lost more than a quarter of its funding due to cuts in Washington State’s budget. The community rallied.

“We lost $60,000 in state funding in 2025,” said Bothel. “The fact that we’re sitting here with a fairly low stress level today is because the community showed up and stepped in to help families.”

A big boost came from the South Whidbey nonprofit Goosefoot, which, through its roundup to the next dollar program at the Goose Community Grocer last July, raised significant funds to support Mother Mentors. Other local partners stepped in to help, including Island Thrift and Whidbey Community Foundation.

“We mounted a campaign and were deeply moved by the community support,” added Bothel. “In the midst of the cuts, we were interviewed by King 5 News, and a woman sent us a very large check because she heard of us. This community made it clear they want families to be taken care of.”

During the uncertain times we live in, Bothel said it’s heartening that foundations have stepped forward to keep Mother Mentors running. “Our vision is for all families with young children on Whidbey Island to thrive through the support and connection of their community. We are not resting on our laurels until that happens.” 

To learn more, visit Mother Mentors of Whidbey Island at mothermentors.org.