Volunteer Spotlight

After a long career in environmental consulting, Gayle retired at the end of 2025 and began looking for a meaningful way to stay connected and give back. Originally from Virginia, Gayle relocated to Iowa with her late husband, Tom, to be closer to his family. Today, she continues to build roots in the community and has found a new sense of purpose through volunteering with FOF. Gayle’s journey with FOF began with a simple step: stopping by the office to learn more. What stood out immediately

Meet Brandy! She joined us in Mason City to help with the PIT Census. We sat down with her to learn more about her and her experience volunteering with Friends of the Family. Why did you choose to volunteer for FOF, and what makes you to continue to volunteer? I first learned about FOF when someone reached out to ask if I would be interested in volunteering for the PIT Census. Although I had always wanted to become more involved in volunteer work, I hadn’t yet made the time to do so—this