Mallory's Story
Mallory Wilton’s life changed fast when she turned 21—but not in the same way as her college-age peers. Her transition into adulthood included marriage and instantly becoming a step-mother to a five-year-old. Soon Mallory also unexpectedly became pregnant with Amelia. With no health insurance, a crippling debt, and an estranged family, Mallory was scared. “I had never even held a baby until I had my own,” she shares. “I needed someone to walk me through this.”
Luckily, a nurse told her about First Step Family Support Center in Port Angeles, where Mallory soon found resources and enrolled in a Love & Logic parenting class funded by Children’s Trust Foundation. “I needed resources,” she remembers, “but most of all I needed to be reassured that I was a good mom.”
“It doesn’t matter what level of life you are at socially or economically,” she continues. “Everyone needs support and there is something for everyone at First Step.” Through this program, Mallory became empowered and engaged with her family and community in new ways. “It’s all about recharging each other,” she shares.
Now Mallory volunteers at First Step and her children’s school and has found renewed energy by connecting with the support system she discovered through First Step and the support provided by Children’s Trust Foundation. “It’s amazing to see parents’ lives change,” she beams. “This motivates me even more than my own experience.”
“I never would have done things like this if it wasn’t for First Step. I learned what was possible in terms of resources and the impact of volunteering. Most especially, they’ve taught me how to be a parent—and love it.”
