One building, six ways to help.
Founded in 2020 in Fort Payne. Main programs in DeKalb County, an office in Etowah County, and service into Jackson County. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Marked For Life Ministries exists to bring hope into some of life's hardest moments: homelessness, addiction, poverty, food insecurity, and personal crisis.
Founded in 2020 in Fort Payne, Alabama, Marked For Life has grown from a single vision into a nonprofit with many moving parts, all serving individuals and families across Northeast Alabama. What started as meeting immediate needs grew into long-term programs that carry people from crisis to stability.
Food, clothing, shelter, and emergency assistance matter. Lasting change happens when people are also given the tools, encouragement, accountability, and support to rebuild their lives. That is why every program is built to help people move forward, not just get through another day.
What the ministry includes today
The Hope Center, the MFL Hope House for men, the 24/7 Hope Line, the MFL Medical Center, food rescue and distribution through FeedDeKalb, disaster response and the emergency Warming Station, community outreach through Deliver Hope, and the Marked For Life Thrift Store.
The ministry began in DeKalb County and now reaches across Northeast Alabama. Alongside the Fort Payne campus, an office in Etowah County serves more individuals and families. Staff work closely with courts, probation offices, law enforcement, and local agencies in DeKalb, Etowah, and Jackson counties to connect people with recovery, transitional housing, crisis services, and other resources.
Logan starts serving people in need
Years of ministry in Birmingham before relocating to rural North Alabama to serve DeKalb County.
Marked For Life Ministries is founded in Fort Payne
The Hope Center opens at 917 Godfrey Ave S with the 24/7 Hope Line, case management, food, clothing, showers, and laundry.
The Hope House gets a permanent home, and the clinic gets a new name
A former motel is renovated into the Hope House residential program for men. The Interfaith Medical Clinic, after more than 20 years, becomes the Marked For Life Medical Center.
Six doors, one mission, across Northeast Alabama
Since 2020: 51,000+ crisis calls answered, 19,000+ neighbors served, 80,000+ pounds of food rescued, and 6,000+ nights of shelter provided. Deliver Hope serves 1,500+ Thanksgiving meals and 150+ children at Christmas each year, and an Etowah County office in Gadsden brings the work closer to home.
What we believe about people
Every person has value, every story can be redeemed, and every life is worth investing in. Someone may need a hot meal, a safe place to stay, guidance through a hard season, or a community that believes in them. The goal is the same: walk with them until they can stand on their own.
Every year, thousands of people turn to Marked For Life Ministries for help. Through volunteers, churches, businesses, and supporters, lives are restored and families are strengthened here, one person, one family, and one story at a time.
Etowah County Office
Bringing hope closer to home.
Our Etowah County office gives neighbors in Gadsden and Etowah County a local connection to Marked For Life Ministries. The office serves as a point of connection for individuals and families facing homelessness, addiction, food insecurity, housing instability, and other difficult circumstances.
Our team helps neighbors understand their options, connect with available resources, and identify practical next steps. This may include connections to recovery services, housing resources, Hope House, food assistance, community partners, and other Marked For Life programs.
The Etowah County office is open by appointment only. For assistance or to schedule an appointment, please call our main number at 888-789-HOPE (4673).
| Address | 400 Broad Street, Suite 104Gadsden, AL 35901 |
|---|---|
| Hours | By appointment only |
| Phone | 888-789-HOPE (4673) |
Please call before visiting. Walk-in services are not available at this location.
Warming Station
A safe place when temperatures become dangerous.
During periods of extreme cold, Marked For Life Ministries may activate an emergency Warming Station to provide a safe, warm place for neighbors who would otherwise be exposed to dangerous temperatures.
The Warming Station provides more than a place to get out of the cold. Neighbors can receive a warm meal, basic necessities, compassionate support, and connection to the Hope Center and other resources that can help address the circumstances that brought them there.
More than a warm night.
For some neighbors, walking through the doors of the Warming Station becomes their first connection with Marked For Life.
Our goal is to use that moment to build trust, understand the need, and connect neighbors with resources that can help them move toward greater stability. That approach aligns with the Hope Center's broader model of connecting immediate assistance with practical next steps.
When is the Warming Station open?
The Warming Station is not open year-round. It is activated as needed during dangerous winter weather.
When the Warming Station is activated, current hours and instructions will be shared through Marked For Life Ministries and community partners.
Need help during extreme cold?
Call the 24/7 Hope Line at 888-789-HOPE (4673) for current information and assistance.
Want to help?
Warming Station operations depend on volunteers and community support. Opportunities may include preparing meals, providing supplies, assisting with operations, and helping care for neighbors during activation.
