150 mile project raises awareness of homelessness
It’s been nearly two months, and Zac Morton is pretty sure he has recuperated from his efforts.
“Been pretty well recovered now, I think,” Morton said amidst chuckles over the phone. “Took a bit of a toll on my feet, but I’m good now.”
Back in September, the Rev. Zac Morton, of the First Prestbyterian Church in Morgantown, set out from his church with a simple goal: walk to Charleston. The hope was that by walking those 150 miles he could raise awareness — and funds — for homelessness and extreme poverty across West Virginia.
Over the course of eight days, Morton was not only able to walk to the West Virginia statehouse, but was also successful in raising awareness through his regular social media posts.
Each day he was on the road, Morton chose a different topic impacting the unhoused and poor. In videos still visible on the @Walk4WV Instagram, he discusses issues ranging from social stigma and affordable housing to mental health, trauma and substance use.
“I’m really pleased that I’ve got a lot of messages and notes from folks who said that the videos really helped educate them on angles that they didn’t think about, practical day-to-day things that folks face,” Morton said.
As for the fundraising, Morton raised roughly $7,000 through various means for Milan Puskar Health Right in Morgantown.
“All-in-all, the walk was a really incredible experience, and I was grateful for a lot of the support and encouragement that came along the way from people here in Morgantown and beyond,” he said.
Hard-Earned Success
Morton walked for eight days, starting with a grueling 26-mile day from Morgantown to Grafton, always on the side of a road.
“I wouldn’t do another day that was that long if I was planning this out again, that was the limit,” he said, laughing.
Before departing, Morton mapped out several routes, ultimately deciding on his final path only after driving the length and ensuring it would be safe for a pedestrian. But even with careful planning, unexpected challenges arose.
“One of the things about the actual walk was just how draining it was, not just from a physical perspective, I mean that’s one that you can anticipate … but mentally it was especially draining,” Morton said.
Walking on the shoulders of winding West Virginia roads meant being constantly vigilant for vehicles coming in both directions, on top of the added fatigue of miles of walking. Even in that mental strain, Morton can find a connection to his project.
“I think there’s an analogy that can be drawn with folks who live in crazy situations … that mental fatigue is something very real that I think they experience when you have a lack of security.”
Next Steps
Now, almost two months after the final steps of his trip, Morton said he is surprised to find his Walk4WV project has developed legs of its own.
“I didn’t really anticipate that a whole lot was going to happen after the walk, but enough people really were interested and we developed enough partners that I think this can continue to be something,” Morton said.
That something is likely to take the shape of conversations with direct support organizations across West Virginia, to be released in 2021 as a series of videos, and maybe even a podcast.
Morton said he’s also heard from various delegates in the state legislature who want to help with advocacy, as well as possible policy changes.
“We’re kind of building a network with this,” he said.
Morton’s fundraiser ended but he said there is still a need for support all across West Virginia, a need that is growing.
“The need in our state in particular, could and probably is going to grow in terms of folks who are going to find themselves unsheltered because just a lot of the job-loss and income-loss that we’ve seen and are going to continue to see,” Morton said.
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to disrupt the normal giving season across the globe. Thanksgiving is usually the most popular day for volunteering in the United States, but physical opportunities will be hard to find this year, with local organizations already forced to cancel their free Thanksgiving meals.
Morton, however, sees this as an opportunity to reassess how and when to reach out to help.
“We have these seasonal pushes, but what we really need is for people to make a commitment all year long. Even if it’s just once a month, make yourself a commitment for 2021 to get involved with something, start there,” he said. “Find the outlets in your communities, make a commitment, and together we can make West Virginia a better place for folks who are most vulnerable.”
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