It is through stories that Pastor Zac Morton first connected with those who are homeless.  

 

Following his calling to ministry, he worked with his church, First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown, to provide outreach programs that met the needs of often forgotten populations.  At the end of September, Morton will be taking a literal journey to create awareness of homelessness in West Virginia and will be traveling near Bridgeport.  

 

After walking from Morgantown to Charleston over the course of about a week and a half, he hopes to use his stories of connection to work with area ministries and agencies to create real change in the Mountain State.

 

“I have had the privilege to work with some of the most vulnerable populations through my work with the church,” said Morton. “Whether assisting with food distribution, transportation, or direct service organizations, we form relationships with those who are very often in crisis situations.”

 

After empathizing with the plight of the homeless and seeing first-hand how many are treated as though they are invisible, Morton created the Walk4WV journey to give a voice to those who have fallen through the cracks of the system.  

 

“There are many individuals and organizations throughout the state that have been compassionate toward those less fortunate,” he said. “The Walk4WV will provide an opportunity for those supporters, as well as others, to participate in offering resources, encouragement, and a great deal of hope and awareness for those facing homelessness.”

 

Through his journey, he recognizes that thousands of West Virginians are willing to address the complexities of the situations homeless individuals face. Whether addiction, health, mental illness, family crisis, or transportation and employment issues resulted in their current homelessness, Morton and other supporters will “walk the walk” of leading with compassion and hope. 

 

“As a Christian, I believe it is my responsibility to advocate and care for people who are up against some of life’s biggest challenges,” said Morton.  Through this initiative, I hope to generate conversations that lead to real change in West Virginia.”

 

Initially, Morton identified common barriers to compassionate progress. These included social barriers such as stigma, trauma, and the lack of a safety net when basic necessities need to be met. Additionally, organizational barriers within an overwhelmed system contribute to many individuals slipping through the cracks due to unattainable resources and complicated structures.

 

Finally, he recognized institutional barriers such as affordable housing, lack of healthcare, employment challenges, substance use and recovery and even something as simple as access to proper identification or transportation. The combination of all these barriers has created a need for sustainable change in order to empower those most affected by the oppression.  

 

Morton hopes to have around 500 people walk over the entire course of the route, avoiding highways and busier roads along the way. The group will leave Morgantown on Monday traveling through Grafton as they make their way through the course outlined on www.walk4wv.org.  Walk participants can join for any portion of the journey, which will end at the state capitol on October 2 after 150 miles of walking.  Each leg of the trip is outlined on the site and people of all ages are encouraged to participate and share their stories.

 

Other ways to support Walk4WV include sharing updates on social media platforms, donate to fundraising efforts to secure stable housing, connect and volunteer in local areas throughout the Mountain State and find ways to show respect to those who are homeless, treating them with dignity and kindness.  After the walk is finished, Morton and other participants will begin working with organizations, media outlets, churches and individuals around the state to continue finding solutions to the issues addressed.

 

The website includes the route that will be walked, links for donations and other forms of support, information on reporting those in need of services, and resources for taking action regarding homelessness and extreme poverty.

 

Visit www.walk4wv.orgfor additional information. Spectators can also follow the journey through Facebook and Instagram.