PONDERAY — Hunger can lead to anger and frustration. The term for that is “hangry.” It is a word often bandied about while people have to wait for dinner longer than desired in a restaurant — hunger plus anger equals hangry.

Most Americans get something to eat when they are hangry, but for a variety of reasons, not everyone has that kind of good fortune.

For people who are hungry and the coffers are empty, there is an immediate opportunity to assuage hunger pains: It’s called The Help Shed.

The Help Shed is located on the grounds of The Shed Dealer, a business in Ponderay on the highway owned by Steve Johnson. Johnson sells animal shelters, mini-barns, storage barns, playhouses and other kinds of sheds, but one shed is open wide for people in immediate need to pick up emergency meals.

There is a refrigerator, for the time being in the business office at The Shed Dealer, holding meals prepared by the Thursday night soup kitchen, which has taken to preparing meals and sack lunches and delivering them on Thursdays to The Help Shed for pick up until the actual soup kitchen reopens; it will continue, after virus safety is ensured, downstairs at the United Methodist Church of Sandpoint.

Lenny Guerrero, who works with Johnson at The Shed Dealer, said people leave little notes thanking them for even one can of food. “It’s all I will have in 24 hours,” wrote one person, and others have expressed heartfelt messages of gratitude. He sees directly the impact it has on people, and said it is gratifying to help them out.

At one time, Guerrero wanted to open homeless shelters utilizing sheds, but it didn’t work out. Instead, he worked to open The Help Shed in October 2019.

The Help Shed isn’t like the food bank where there is a point system and people are generally able to fill a cart with foodstuffs. “This is an emergency, on-the-go pit stop,” he said.

When LED lights are on inside the shed, which can be seen from the highway, it is an indication new food has come in.

Presently, the shed doesn’t have much food available, in all likelihood due to the soup kitchen closures, creating an increased demand for food. Some helping organizations require documentation and paperwork, which doesn’t always work for homeless people or for some who might have mental health issues. Donations of staples and non-perishables are needed; donors can bring food by from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 476422 Highway 95, across from the Co-Op Country Store.

Guerrero, an entrepreneur, offers opportunities for businesses to grow through Bear Mountain Express, an advertising publication out of Priest River that is delivered directly to homes, and 30 percent of the advertising dollars support The Help Shed.

“Without the support of Becky at Bear Mountain Express and Steve Johnson, who is donating half of his shed sales to fund The Help Shed, this wouldn’t be possible,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero helps people make money through selling items on eBay such as vintage tools, vintage clothes, and vintage toys.

He also sells smartphones. “I worked repairing phones for many years. I know how to turn a profit on a used smartphone with most any kind of problem —broken screen, broken parts,” and in turn the person who brings in a phone makes a profit and so does The Help Shed,” he said, because all of Guerrero’s business endeavors help to fund the shed’s ongoing efforts to help the community out with their next meal. He is working on a digital food drive whereby orders are placed on Amazon and the food is sent to the food bank.

“I like to use social media,” he said. “It’s a good way for community-based businesses to support their neighbors.”

Information: Lenny Guerrero at 208-265-4217 or 208-304-3592