Md. resident to hike Appalachian Trail to raise funds for shelter
One Talbot County resident is taking a unique approach to helping raise funds for a local shelter, one that could take half a year to complete.
Robert Messick, is a local attorney with a passion for helping and hiking.
"I grew up spending a lot of time in the outdoors," says Messick.
Messick is combining the two to benefit the Talbot Interfaith Shelter in Easton. This April, Messick will be hiking all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail in an effort to raise money for the shelter.
"At first you go oh my gosh that's such an effort, but we want to be there to support him along the way," says Julie Lowe, the Executive Director at Talbot Interfaith Shelter.
Messick has been volunteering at the shelter the past couple of years.
In 2009, TIS got started as an emergency shelter during the winter. Lowe says in 2014, the shelter acquired a property to house family and individuals who are in need. The shelter can house about 12 people at a time.
"Most of the family that we see com here have been what we call 'couch-surfing' for a while, staying friends and family until they wear out their welcome," says Lowe.
Messick says he felt the need to do more to help those families , which is why he made it his goal is to raise $35, 000 for the shelter. With two months to go, he's already prepping for his hiking trip.
"I'll probably be spending more time over at Patapsco Valley State Park outside of Baltimore just to be able to workout and go up and down some steeper hills," says Messick.
Messick has also started dehydrating food and buying hiking gear to take in his trip. So far he has packed his backpack with cookware, extra clothing, and a unique form of bedding for the outdoors.
"I'm using a hammock. I refer to it as a jungle hammock because it has the potential for putting netting to keep bugs out." says Messick.
Messick tells us hiking the Appalachian trail can take him five to six months to complete.
For more information on how to donate to Messick's journey click here.
