Two Episcopal dioceses in Central Pennsylvania have announced that more than $3 million of medical debt will be forgiven for Pennsylvania residents.
The Help, Healing, and Hope medical debt forgiveness initiative was created by the Episcopal Church as a way to help those affected by medical debt. The local program represents a collaboration between two historically linked Episcopal parishes: Hope Church in Manheim and St. Luke’s Church in Lebanon, according to a press release.
According to the release, more than 120 congregations, individuals, and interfaith communities have been a part of the ministry, representing cooperative efforts in 38 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Over three phases in the past year, the churches have raised more than $30,000, which will forgive an estimated $3 million to $3.5 million in medical debt for residents of the commonwealth.
A special musical worship service called “Evensong” will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon on Sunday, March 10 at 4 p.m. The service, which is open to all, will be used to celebrate the end of the initiative and symbolically retire the debt. The Rev. Dr. David Zwifka of St. Luke’s Church and Rev. Bradley Mattson of Hope Church will preside, and St. Luke’s Festival Choir will be featured during the service.
According to the release, over half of all debt collections activity in the United States is linked to medical debt. The nonprofit organization RIP Medical Debt works to help people facing medical debt by purchasing the debt for pennies on the dollar and then forgiving the debt. More information about RIP Medical Debt can be found online.
For more information, please contact admin@stlukeslebanon.org or 717-272-8251.
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