The network Tri-State Christian Television, TCT, has just announced that they are committing to paying $2.5 million of medical debt for 2,500 families across the United States.

“Across this country, there are people with medical debt and they simply don’t have any way to pay it,” TCT said in a statement. “Most of the people are living at a poverty level or below the poverty level and the situation is serious and hopeless for some.”

The network went on to say that anyone from families to senior citizens or military veterans can be affected by “unforeseen illness leaving unsayable medical bills.”

“Medical costs are astronomical and a heavy burden to bear for someone who is already sick and struggling,” the statement said. “Yet they have the added pressures of bill collectors calling, writing, and trying to collect. TCT saw this need and began to do something about it.”

Dr. Garth and Tina Coonce, president and founders of the network, are the ones who came up with he idea for TCT to team up with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which has paid for over $800 million in debt for about 240,000 Americans and over $50 million specifically for veterans.

“Dr. Coonce heard about this particular non-profit organization and what they were doing. He contacted them and was impressed by their activities and decided this was a great need today for many less fortunate and hurting people,” explained TCT Spokesperson Judy Church.

TCT is looking at this donation as a “new mission field,” allowing the gospel to be preached by the forgiveness of medical debt. The families who will receive the donations live in eleven counties in the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio.