Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 12-31-19

Local
Church Pays Off Medical Debts In Community
This year, around 800 people received a special blessing.
And, those individuals didn’t kn0w they had been blessed until they received a letter in the mail.
Pastors Jomo and Charmaine Cousins, of Love First Christian Cen- ter, in Riverview, paid off the medical debts of resi- dents in the community.
According to the
PASTORS JOMO AND CHARMAINE COUSINS
church’s website, approxi- mately $1.5 million in medical bills were wiped out by the act of kindness. The recipients of the un- usual gift were residents living in the Riverview, Gibsonton, and Wimauma communities.
In order to accomplish the feat, the church hired a firm to purchase more than $1 million in medical debts. The church utilized
a company known as RIP Medical Debt, who pur- chased the debts in bulk. The church sent the com- pany a check for $12,000 to help clear the debts.
Pastor Jomo Cousins said in the letter, “Our forgiveness of the amount you owe is a no strings attached gift. You no longer have any obliga- tion to pay this debt to any- one at any future time.”
Gadson Sisters 7th Annual Community Service Event
The Gadson Sisters held their 7th Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for Senior Citizens. The luncheon was held at Temple Crest Community Center. (Photographs by Tonya Lewis)
Pastor Larry Roundtree, II, of New Mt. Zion M. B. Church, Henrietta Gad- son Walton, Yvonne Gadson Douglas at the luncheon.
The Gadson sisters and their brother: Johnnie Mae Harris, Betty Broadway, Bobby Gadson, Yvonne Dou- glas, and Henrietta Walton.
Deacon Oscar Douglas, Sr. was also at the luncheon.
Gertrude Murrell was among the guests in atten- dance.
Carolyn Watkins also at- tended the luncheon for sen- ior citizens.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9