Local church campaign helps others erase medical debt
A special 150th anniversary worship service at Wooster’s Westminster Presbyterian Church included former ministers with current Pastor Rev. Dr. Enikő Ferenczy, middle. Former ministers included Dries Coetzee, left, Tricia Petraven, Erin Guzman and Carroll Meyer.
In honor of its 150th anniversary celebration last year, Wooster’s Westminster Presbyterian Church conducted a campaign to raise funds to help erase medical debt for individuals in need in Wayne and five neighboring counties.
Starting with an initial goal of raising $10,000, the campaign ended up more than doubling that amount.
“Our final donation amount ended up at $22,205.10, which abolished $4,209,683 (in medical debt) for 3,871 recipients,” said Ferenc M. Relle Jr., a member of the 150th anniversary celebration committee.
The individuals whose debts were erased were from Wayne, Holmes, Ashland, Medina, Stark and Summit counties.
When discussions began on how best to celebrate the milestone anniversary, topics included a historical overview, reaching out to church alumni who have moved from the area, a celebratory luncheon, several congregational get-togethers and a significant community service project.
The idea for the campaign to reduce medical debt took root when, during an anniversary campaign committee meeting, a congregant mentioned her husband had recently read about how medical debt for those living near or below poverty levels was becoming a national crisis and how there was a nonprofit working to reduce and eliminate this debt.
With that, The Mustard Seed Campaign was born.
Relle said, “(The name) refers to a parable about how the smallest seed can grow into the largest tree. This is very appropriate since Westminster Presbyterian Church is a very small congregation that accomplishes great things.”
According to its website at www.unduemedicaldebt.org, the organization is a national nonprofit whose purpose is to strengthen communities by erasing financially burdensome medical debt. The group works to end medical debt and ensure a future where everyone can access health care without fear.
“(Undue Medical Debt) works with an offshoot of TransUnion, one of the top credit reporting agencies in the U.S., to ensure that medical debts are purchased only for those who qualify for relief,” Relle said. “(They) purchase medical debt at a very steep discount so that a $100 donation can relieve $10,000 in debt.”
The church approached current and past members for donations and created a marketing campaign aimed at friends, service clubs, other nonprofits and foundations, and the Wayne County population in general. It used social media and press releases and made presentations to local groups and clubs.
When the initial goal was reached in the first month, the church agreed to extend the overall goal to $20,000. Although no church members had contact with the people being helped, they did receive thank-you notes at the conclusion of the campaign.
Of the campaign’s accomplishment, Relle said, “This is the story of the mustard seed parable or the little engine that could.”