Mark’s Journey: From Recovery to Home Ownership
September 24, 2025
Three years ago, Mark Farlow was living at Sojourners’ Place in Wilmington and struggling with alcoholism. Today, at 57, he is sober, financially stable, and preparing to buy his first home. His story is one of determination, hard work, and the right support at the right time.
When Mark enrolled in the Food Bank of Delaware’s LOGIC (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) workforce training program, which provides hands-on experience in warehousing and logistics, he was ready to make lasting changes in his life. Part of that transformation came through an introduction to Stand By Me, Delaware’s free financial coaching program.
During training, Mark and his classmates met Marilyn Ramirez, a Stand By Me coach at the Food Bank of Delaware, who shared how the program offers personalized financial guidance through phone or video conferencing. Her presentation immediately resonated with Mark.
“Her presentation was awesome, the way she explained things. She was honest,” he recalls.
At the time, Mark admits his financial picture wasn’t strong. “My credit wasn’t that good. My goal was to save money. I didn’t have a lot of debt, but I had unpaid bills,” he explained. With Marilyn’s guidance, he paid off his balances, improved his credit score, and is proud to say it is now excellent.
“He’s doing good, real good,” Marilyn explained. “He started with no credit, no job. He’s now full-time with Sojourner’s and he’s trying to buy a house. He’s been able to save, and he’s really happy about it. He did a budget and kept up with his appointments.”
That progress fueled his next goal: home ownership. “Everything is ready,” Mark said. “Marilyn even gave my number to a loan officer.”
Today, he is actively looking at houses, condos, and even land, with hopes of building a home of his own. “I would like to build my own house,” he said with a smile.
Mark’s journey shows what’s possible when determination meets opportunity. With support from the Food Bank of Delaware and Stand By Me, he is not only thriving in his sobriety but also building the foundation for long-term financial stability.
