BANGOR, Maine — After a chilly, sleepless night with her two daughters, Tonya Lewis, 26, of Bangor found a place to warm up — and charge her cellphone.
Lewis lives on Moosehead Boulevard in the Capehart housing development run by Bangor Housing Authority. The neighborhood, including Downeast School, lost power Sunday afternoon during a snowstorm that cut off power for an estimated 140,000 Mainers.
“It was cold and horrible,” Lewis said as her 5-year-old daughter Chenele pedaled her toy trike in circles around the gymnasium floor Monday afternoon. Her other daughter, 3, was in day care, she said.
Knowing that almost all of its tenants were without heat and electricity, Bangor Housing decided to open the doors of its Davis Road community center gym to anyone in the city who needed a warm place for a few hours. The agency knew many of the city’s residents might need to take a break from the cold, according to Bangor Housing Executive Director Mike Myatt.
Bangor Housing said any Bangor residents were welcome to come warm up, play or charge electronic gear. Myatt said it would remain open until around 7:30 p.m. Monday and may reopen Tuesday morning if power hasn’t been restored to the neighborhood. The gym and community center have heat and lights powered by a generator.
There aren’t any cots or beds in the facility, so it could not be open overnight.
“We’re lucky in one sense that the temperatures aren’t too frigid, but it’s still cold, especially for young kids,” Myatt said.
Lewis said her youngest daughter suffers from respiratory issues and has an inoperable brain aneurysm, so she was worried about how the cold would affect her health. She said she was happy her daughter had a place to warm up and play.
Emera Maine told Lewis that power might not be restored until Wednesday or even later in the week, she said.
If the power didn’t come back on soon, she planned on going to stay with her father in Dexter.
The Salvation Army of Bangor also offered to help those without power. The organization operates a food kitchen Monday through Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. that is open to anyone, including those who can’t cook themselves a hot meal because they’re without electricity.
On average, the Salvation Army serves 100 meals per day out of its Park Street hub, according to James Moors, social services assistant.
The City of Bangor also has opened its Public Works Department and police station to those who need to warm up or have a cup of coffee.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter @nmccrea213.