RIP Medical Debt Elimination Update

RIP Medical Debt Elimination Update

Our reaching out to local churches to join us in our effort to eliminate local medical debt was extremely successful. We can be very proud of Tom Barninger, Norm and Dottie Saunders, the Walters Committee and Parish Resource Center for leading the charge in organizing these churches. Our initial goal was far surpassed by the generous fund raising of twenty local churches.

The original goal of our RIP medical debt fund raising effort was $31K. At the end of the campaign the group had raised $51K. Medical debt was eliminated in Chester, Dauphin, Lancaster,Lebanon and York counties, with the debt in Lancaster being the highest, $744K. Of the $31K initially purchased only 14K was used. There was not enough medical debt in Lancaster so adjoining counties were purchased as well. Still not having used all our money, RIP Medical will continue to buy up medical debt in the future until the total sum equals our initial 31K. 1697 people in our area have received letters informing them that their medical debt of between $500 and $1500 has been erased. Those recipients will remain anonymous unless they choose to reach out and tell their story.

The 20k remaining of the money raised will be used for local food banks and to help those seeking asylum to get a start with clothing and lodging. The churches participating are as follows: (Mennonite churches will be listed as MC)

Akron MC, Alive Church, Bethany UCC, Blossom Hill MC, Church of the Apostles UCC, Community Mennonite of Lancaster, Faith UCC, First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster, Forrest Hill MC, Grandview UMC, James St MC, Mountville Church of the Brethren, Landisville MC, Marietta Community Chapel, Mt. Joy MC, Pilgrims MC, Rosmere MC, Sunnyside MC, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF LANCASTER, and the Worship Center.