SANDPOINT — Ernest Hemingway wrote a short story entitled “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” about the need everyone has to go to an actual place where inner darkness fades, and where the shadows of one’s heart brighten.

Even teenagers need a place where there are smiles and companionship, an opportunity to talk to a trustworthy adult about troubles. Perhaps teenagers need a clean, well-lighted place more than older individuals. Life is challenging at times, but think of experiencing the pressures, stresses, and temptations at teens face at school, and dealing with those pressures with an adolescent brain that won’t fully mature until age 24.

Sandpoint Teen Center, 221 S. Division, is that clean, well-lighted place for 30-some teenagers who go there after school for companionship, activities, and according to the teens, the most important of all—good food!

“I like the environment here,” said Peyton Cessna, an 8th grader at Sandpoint Middle School.

“There are other after-school places that kids go to,” said Mercedes Etzwiler, a 7th grader, “but the kids are mean and disrespectful.”

Peyton said she participates in sports and doesn’t go to the teen center every day. “I like to come here sometimes because I can relax. My mom’s a teacher at the high school and I have to wait for her until she’s ready to go home, and that’s kind of boring, so I like to come here,” she said. “The staff here is really nice.”

Briarra Lewis, 13, said the teen center is a good place to meet new friends. “There’s always an activity and even though some of the kids have weird personalities, you get to know them, and the food is so good! I love food!” she said.

On Thursday and Friday of last week, the teen center was not full of forlorn teenagers. It would be fair to call it supervised hubbub — all kinds of activities were going on.

There were a variety of snacks — salami, crackers, chips, veggie chips, apples, caramel, apple juice, yogurts, and pizza donated by Papa Murphy’s.

“I like to hang out here,” said Cruz Lomeli, who was playing a very kinesthetic game of spoons with Finn Epperd and many others. “There’s ping pong, Uno, basketball, bowling, and every Wednesday afternoon we have a bowling tournament,” Finn said.

The difference the teen center makes in the lives of the kids is evident in the enthusiasm they express; they only have positive things to say about their after-school experiences. And what’s not to like? They have milkshakes on Mondays, tacos on Tuesdays, bowling tournament on Wednesdays, Italian soda Thursdays and opportunities to create, to use their bodies to move around, and many opportunities to create new friendships.

Not only is the teen center a fun place to spend free time after school, it is also the first meal of the day for some of its attendees. “That’s what some of the kids tell me,” said staff member Joan Avery, “because the bus leaves for school so early they don’t have time to eat.”

The center offers educational projects such as learning to cook. On Thursday, 14-year-old Kailyn Gingerich was learning to cook macaroni and cheese from scratch by first creating a roux and adding the cheese when the roux was ready; chef Sandi Carter was guiding her through the experience, and afterward Kailyn explained what she had learned to staff in another room. It was served the next day to hungry after-school teens attending the center. Another chef at the teen center is Kristy Kersey, from Estonia, who offers an international bent to cooking.

After learning how to cook six different dishes, the teen earns a certificate and $25 and they take a quiz. “We assist them with getting their food handler’s certificate and with getting a job at one of our local partnerships — Trinity, Dub’s, and Bab’s Pizzeria,” said Avery, a retired schoolteacher from the Sandpoint Junior Academy, who has worked with the teen center for 12 years.

Avery and other staff workers are getting older and the teen center is in need of younger mentors with good work ethics because they can relate better to the teens than someone much older. The positions are paid, due to the kindness of local businesses, community members, and due to the solid efforts of Kate Mansur, grant writer, not to mention the Community Action League and the Angels Over Sandpoint.

“We have all kinds of donors — Papa Murphy’s, Hoot Owl, Kessa’s Coffee, Panhandle Cone and Coffee, and more,” said JoAnna Quick, executive director for the teen center. “In December 2016, we had $16,000 in community support after our annual giving letter was sent out,” she said, “but we are trying to find a volunteer to help with fundraising to keep the program going,” she said, because it is expensive to feed 30-35 teens every day.

Quick said the center is not faith-based, even though it meets at the Church of God. When its building across from Moon Chapel sold, they struck a deal with the Church of God — and pay a flat rate — primarily because of its proximity to the schools and because it has a kitchen.

“This is about developing relationships. Sometimes kids just need someone to talk to — caring adults who are willing to listen and to mentor kids; we need more of these people,” Avery said.

The bowling program, run by volunteer Jim Payne, offers award certificates to local business for the most improved bowler each week. At 2:25 p.m., some 15-20 boys show up and grab food and then go to the bowling alley. “He is all about encouraging the teens to improve through practice, said Avery, in reference to Payne’s efforts.

“Jim has probably taught 100 kids how to bowl,” said Avery, and that’s good news when one considers that so many of the kids who initially attend the teen center have no interests.

Sandpoint Teen Center’s board is seeking a volunteer who will come to the center every Thursday to take photos of what’s occurring for its documentation. It is also seeking younger mentors, as well as additional officers for its board. Presently the board is composed of Payne, Holly Rose, Lynn Dawson-Jennings, Troy Badeaux, and Doug Fraser.

If you have an interest in being part of the teen center, call JoAnna Quick, 208-946-6901. Sandpoint Teen Center is now open Monday through Friday. Hours are after school to 5:30 p.m.

Most of the teens who frequent the Sandpoint Teen Center after school are younger teens in seventh to tenth grade, kids who need a place to go, a place they feel accepted and welcomed—a clean, well-lighted place, as Hemingway put it.

And Sandpoint has it.

Susan Drinkard can be reached at susanadiana@icloud.com.