ADA, Okla. (KTEN) -- Hundreds of Oklahoma residents across seven counties will soon be opening an envelope containing a notice that their medical debt has been paid off.

First United Methodist Church of Ada launched its fundraising campaign last year... just as the global pandemic enveloped the region. But they persisted to reach the goal.

"These are people who live here in south-central Oklahoma who obviously need some love from their neighbors," said church member and attorney Krystina Phillips. "We were more than happy to be able to assist in this small way."

The church helped distribute an average of $2,500 for each patient, with donations coming from neighbors.

"The majority came from people who we knew, who are a part of our church or people in the community we know," said Senior Pastor Brian Matthews. "But then there were some donations that came from folks I'll never meet."

In partnership with RIP Medical Debt, Phillips said the church was able to raise well over $3 million.

"With that donation, we we able to purchase and then forgive over $3.8 million of medical debt held by a little over 1,300 of our neighbors," she said.

The church had planned to finish collecting donations in June 2020,  but they kept the campaign going until December, so notification letters are just heading out the door.

So if you see a bright yellow envelope in the mail that says your medical debt has been paid off, the church says don't throw it out -- it's not too good to be true.