NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — Cold temperatures are about to get colder.
The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a flurry of weather warnings for north central Ohio, including a cold weather advisory through early Saturday morning.
Richland, Ashland and Knox county residents could experience wind-chill values as low as 17 degrees below zero between now and Saturday morning.
Forecasters warn a total of five to 10 inches of snow may follow between Saturday night and Monday morning.
Organizations across Richland, Ashland and Knox counties are operating warming shelters for those who lose their heat or have no place to stay.
For more information on resources in your area, call 211 or contact your county’s emergency management agency.
Richland County
Project ONE/ARC Empowerment Center
Project ONE/ARC Empowerment Center operates a warming center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 378 Park Avenue West. Visitors should enter through Door 5 on Sycamore Street.
The warming center is open on days when the wind chill is at or below 20 degrees.
The warming center provides three hot meals a day and a table with free cold-weather clothing. The center is staffed with three community health workers who can help visitors connect with resources including food assistance, financial assistance and housing resources.
Project One’s warming center is need of both donations and volunteers. Co-founder Amanda Nichols said the most needed items include toilet paper, bottled water, coffee and high quality gloves.
A meal train is available for those who would like to donate money or meals. The facility also accepts donations of new hats, new gloves, new scarves, new socks, non-perishable food items, sugar, creamer, cleaning supplies, disposable dishes and disposable plates.
For more information about volunteering or dropping off supplies outside of operating hours, stop by the warming center, contact Amanda Nichols at 567-241-6781 or email anicholsprojectone@gmail.com.
Nichols said she hopes to eventually add a shower, washer and dryer and working kitchen to the building to further serve those in need. Project One welcomes in-kind donations. The organization is also in search of a van to transport people in-between the daytime and nighttime warming shelters.
First United Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church, located on the square in downtown Mansfield at 12 Diamond Street, operates a warming center from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. whenever temperatures or the wind chill is 20 degrees or lower.
Sleeping cots, blankets and pillows are provided. Men sleep in a separate area from women and children.
Visitors should enter through the side entrance on Park Avenue, near the Tyger Free Little Library box. Doors are locked after 9 p.m., anyone arriving after must walk to the police station for an escort.
Volunteers are needed. To volunteer, contact Peggy Powers at 419-564-9542. Volunteer shifts are from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Ashland County
Most all Social Service agencies are warming centers during their business hours, according to the Ashland County Emergency Management Agency.
Salvation Army Kroc Center
The Salvation Army Kroc Center, located at 527 E Liberty Street in Ashland, operates a warming center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. A free community lunch is available weekdays from 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Cindy Kyser, business operation director at the Kroc Center, said the center will be open Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
She said the agency may open on Sunday, but residents should check the center’s Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
“It really just depends on how many inches of snow we get, if we have enough staff that can actually report to work,” Kyser said.
Kyser said the center is accepting donations of water bottles for those seeking shelter.
Trinity Lutheran Church
Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 508 Center Street in Ashland. Community members are welcome to come in and warm up on days the church is open, according to staff member Becky Schaaf.
The building is typically open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m, though hours may vary. The church will be open on Saturday but will be closed on Sunday due to the storm, Schaaf said.
Savannah Volunteer Fire Company
The Savannah Volunteer Fire Company is open as a warming center during its regularly staffed office hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
Chief Steve Dinsmore said the fire station may open as a warming center on Sunday, depending on the weather. If the station does open, that information will be posted on the Ashland County EMA and Ashland County Sheriff’s Office websites, he added.
The Savannah Crestview Lions Club donated some food for this weekend, but any additional donations would be greatly appreciated, Dinsmore said.
Knox County
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Mount Vernon Corps operates a warming center at 206 East Ohio Avenue from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the Knox County Emergency Management Agency.
The center can accommodate up to 30 individuals and has coats available.
Contact Tyler Mackie for more information by calling 740-392-8716 extension 104 or emailing tyler.mackie@use.salvationarmy.org.
Bladensburg Fire Station 1
The Bladensburg Fire Station at 3790 South Market Street in Bladensburg will operate a daily warming center from 8:30 a.m to 7:30 p.m. through Jan 30. WiFi is available.
For more information, contact Dan Rice at bladchief480@gmail.com, Jared Mullett at jamullett480@gmail.com or Nick Kidd – nkidd480@gmail.com.