We are Sylvania. We are Northwest Ohio. We share in our land, our water, our neighborhoods. But individual medical debt saddles the individual, isolating them, tying them to a future of uncertainty.

Let us as Communities of Faith come together to break the debt. Let us free individuals from years of economic uncertainty. Who knows why they got into medical debt in the first place?! Not our place. What we do know, is that the systems that we live in (and contribute to) created a scenario in which they are bound to debt because of a medical reason. May we look to our faith traditions and find freedom through community so that the individual can be free to love their neighbor in kind.

COF IT UP is a way that we as Faith Communities can connect and engage in some friendly competition to help reduce medical debt. It costs approximately $1 to abolish $100 of medical debt (an estimate not a guarantee). Our traditions have stories relating to multiplying our talents – this is one of those opportunities. RIP Medical Debt purchases debt from the secondary debt market (allowing that significant leverage) and healthcare providers. Medical costs cause a serious financial problem for 26% of American adults each year (NPR/Harvard 2016). Medical debt is the #1 cause of consumer bankruptcy in the country – along with loss of income.

We start the campaign in the season of Lent, Ramadan, Passover, Avalokitesvara’s Birthday and Hindu New Year – times of reflection for the community. We will start with speaker series at communities of faith. In early June we will have a re-stoking of our efforts. The campaign will end on July 4^th as we celebrate the independence of us all. The Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio will help coordinate connections.

 At the end of the campaign, a person will get a letter that states Communities of Faith from Sylvania OH and surrounding areas made this possible.

We are Sylvania – let us work together.  

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