Our authentic sources have indicated that a church in the Washington State raised at least $300,000 in an effort to relieve the burden of medical debt for families across the Northwest. The church’s outreach pastor Steve Allen informed a news outlet that families within 6 states who have been held hostage by their expenses will now be cleared of their debt thanks to the combined efforts of Valley Real Life and RIP Medical Debt. The church had come up with the idea nearly a year ago, even before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Point to be noted that the church holds its ‘Joy to the World’ holiday fundraiser wherein 100% of the proceeds go outside the walls of Valley Real Life each year to make a difference in the community and the world.
It indicates that donating to various nonprofits focused on a range of issues from education to poverty. The church focused on making a difference for those struggling to overcome their medical debt in the current year. The Valley Real Life had hoped to raise at least $200,000 to give to RIP Medical Debt for a span of more than a month. It is a New York-based nonprofit that buys up and forgives debt for individuals, families, and veterans across America. Allen said the organization would pay off $100 in medical debt for every dollar donated. But, they are continually receiving donations, in some cases, not only did they surpass their goal.
The individuals who have had their medical bills paid off are looking to pay it forward. Allen also said, “We have seen that due to the burden of medical debt people have been unable to take the next step in their lives due to poor credit scores, financial crisis, and unpaid bills. And those things have paralyzed thousands of families across our region”. It is noteworthy that the nonprofit now stands to pay off about $30 million in debt for residents within Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montanna, Northern California, and Utah. Allen cited projections from RIP Medical Debt and said, “The families will be notified by letter. The reach that just one church can have has blown me away”.