In the United States, there is over $1 trillion in unpaid and unpayable medical debt. Medical debt is a burden that holds millions back from being able to live a life with meaning and purpose - it can stop educational pursuits, or switching careers, or even from being able to put good food on the table or a safe place to live. And in this time of pandemic, those debts are only rising.
In response, Peace UMC in Brookfield, in partnership with Wauwatosa Ave. UMC in Wauwatosa, Zao MKE and New Berlin: Our Lord’s, are campaigning with RIP Medical Debt. RIP Medical Debt uses donations to purchase bundled medical debt portfolios that have gone through collection agencies for months or years. Using third-party credit data providers, it targets debt incurred by people facing financial hardship, and then forgives it for pennies on the dollar.
Their goal is to raise $13,800 by the end of August, which will forgive over $1.3 million in medical debt specifically in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, which means that for every dollar raised, $100 of medical debt is forgiven. Thanks to a generous grant from the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation, they now have a matching grant up to $10,000, doubling each dollar you give! This doubling means that for every dollar given to the campaign, $200 in medical debt will be cleared, freeing thousands of people from burdensome medical debts. If the $13,800 campaign goal is exceeded, the extra funds will go to erase medical debt across the state of Wisconsin.
In a Pentecost season where United Methodists everywhere are searching for the Holy Spirit to bring inspiration and understanding to communities all over the world, this is a tangible way to change the lives of thousands in our communities. If you would like to donate, click here, and for more information about how to become a partner church, reach out to Rev. Allie Scott at rev.allie.scott@gmail.com.
In response, Peace UMC in Brookfield, in partnership with Wauwatosa Ave. UMC in Wauwatosa, Zao MKE and New Berlin: Our Lord’s, are campaigning with RIP Medical Debt. RIP Medical Debt uses donations to purchase bundled medical debt portfolios that have gone through collection agencies for months or years. Using third-party credit data providers, it targets debt incurred by people facing financial hardship, and then forgives it for pennies on the dollar.
Their goal is to raise $13,800 by the end of August, which will forgive over $1.3 million in medical debt specifically in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, which means that for every dollar raised, $100 of medical debt is forgiven. Thanks to a generous grant from the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation, they now have a matching grant up to $10,000, doubling each dollar you give! This doubling means that for every dollar given to the campaign, $200 in medical debt will be cleared, freeing thousands of people from burdensome medical debts. If the $13,800 campaign goal is exceeded, the extra funds will go to erase medical debt across the state of Wisconsin.
In a Pentecost season where United Methodists everywhere are searching for the Holy Spirit to bring inspiration and understanding to communities all over the world, this is a tangible way to change the lives of thousands in our communities. If you would like to donate, click here, and for more information about how to become a partner church, reach out to Rev. Allie Scott at rev.allie.scott@gmail.com.