Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Jim Egner of Niles came to the Niles Wellness Center on Tuesday afternoon to stay warm and have a cup of coffee while waiting for the power to be restored at his home. A car crash around 9:30 p.m. Monday at the corner of Cannon Street and North Cedar Avenue knocked out power to much of the city.

WARREN — As temperatures plunged below zero Tuesday, warming stations across Trumbull County became lifelines for residents enduring the bitter cold.

Among them was Andrew Mullins, a Warren business owner who turned his establishment at Odd’s, 1850 Youngstown-Warren Road, into a haven for those seeking warmth, meals and support.

“I’ve been cold and hungry before,” Mullins said. “Life has its ups and downs, and I’ve definitely been worse off. This is God’s story. He uses us to help others.”

Mullins and his wife, Melissa, have been running the warming station for three years, providing food, heaters and even gift cards to McDonald’s donated by the community. “If you want to see change, then be the change,” he said.

At the Warren Family Mission, Robert Taylor, 63, sought refuge after another freezing night.

Taylor has lived in the woods since being evicted in June and described how the extreme cold made it impossible to return to his campsite Monday night. “I slept in my truck,” he said. “It was just too cold to make it back to my camp.”

Despite his circumstances, Taylor said he’s managed to build a self-sustaining setup in the woods, complete with a generator, a water-heating system and a lean-to. “I’m probably the richest homeless person you’ll ever meet,” he said with a chuckle. “I cook my meals, take showers and all that good stuff.”

Taylor discussed the importance of warming stations like the Warren Family Mission.

“Places like this save lives,” he said. “Not everyone has the resources I do. Some people are really down and out, and they just need a place to get out of the cold.”

Some attendees remarked that Warren could benefit from more warming stations during severe cold spells when the demand for shelter and resources is high.

NILES

In Niles, elderly residents like Angela Marzullo and Roberta Williams turned to the Niles Wellness Center after a car crash Monday night knocked out power to much of the city.

The crash, which according to a Niles police report occurred at the corner of Cannon Street and North Cedar Avenue around 9:30 p.m., sheared a utility pole and left crews working through the night and into Tuesday morning.

By 1 p.m., power was restored to all but 12 customers, according to city officials.

Marzullo, who lives near the crash site on Cedar Street, recalled the frigid conditions in her home.

“The power went out and the temperature in my house dropped to 57 degrees,” she said. Her brother eventually drove her to the wellness center.

“Warming stations like this are vital, especially for seniors,” she added. “They keep you healthy, fed and warm.”

Williams, who lives on Lafayette Avenue, echoed the sentiment. “I woke up and everything was black. I never expected the power to be out this long,” she said. After calling the police for updates, she learned about the wellness center. “It’s wonderful how quickly they organized this,” she added.

The Niles Wellness Center, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the cold snap, offered water, snacks and a place to recharge — both bodies and electronic devices.

Niles police Chief Jay Holland said in a social media message that the city was committed to aiding residents, even offering transportation to those in need.

“The community really steps up in times like this,” Mullins said, pointing to tables piled high with donated food and supplies at his Warren warming station. “This isn’t just about one place; it’s about neighbors helping neighbors.”

For Taylor, the mission provides an invaluable safety net.

Despite the efforts, many residents stressed the need for more resources.

“Mental health, addiction and homelessness are very real issues here,” Mullins said. “We could talk about solutions, but the bottom line is to do something, anything.”