FROM LEFT, EMMA Cook of Enbridge Inc. presents a $60,000 grant Wednesday to Mylynn Trulock, director of the Medical Care Access Coalition of Dickinson County, and Lola Johnson, MCAC board president. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Canadian energy transportation company Enbridge Inc. has awarded the Medical Care Access Coalition of Dickinson County a $60,000 Community Investment Grant that will support MCAC’s efforts to help area residents with prescription and health care expenses.

The grant was presented Wednesday afternoon at the MCAC’s Iron Mountain office in the Crystal Lake Community Center-YMCA, Suite 102, 800 Crystal Lake Blvd.

MCAC is a community resource that helps people obtain free essential medications through pharmaceutical and other discount drug programs.

For example, the coalition may step in to obtain insulin for clients in need who can’t afford the diabetes treatment, sometimes purchasing the hormone outright, an MCAC employee said.

In 2019, the MCAC was able to obtain $1.2 million in free medications for clients who might otherwise have gone without, putting their health at risk. MCAC operates with a small office staff along with a group of dedicated volunteers.

In addition, MCAC staff also are trained as free Medicare and Medicaid counselors, as well as certified application counselors for the Health Insurance Marketplace. In 2019, MCAC was able provide these services to more than 1,400 Upper Peninsula residents.

“After MCAC lost significant funding in 2018, the program was left in dire financial jeopardy. We are continuing to seek ongoing funding for this vital program and feel truly blessed to have such a strong partner like Enbridge,” said Mylynn Trulock, executive director.

Based in Calgary, Alberta, Enbridge Inc. delivers an average of 2.9 million barrels of crude oil each day through its mainline and express pipeline, and accounts for nearly 65 percent of U.S.-bound Canadian crude oil production, and moves approximately 20 percent of all natural gas consumed in the U.S. For more information, go to www.enbridge.com.