COEUR d'ALENE - Before he met Kevin Kram and the good people of Cherished Ones Ministries, Hippie Dave was a lost man.

Now he's on his feet, free of drugs, and helping local homeless at a Lake City soup kitchen.

He has friends who care about him, food and shelter when the going gets lean.

And, most importantly to him, he has discovered his inner spirituality.

"In the last 10 years, I've probably made 40 meals a year, on Saturdays (at Cherished Ones)," said Dave, who lives in Coeur d'Alene. "Kevin has been the head of the dragon the whole while. And he's been my friend every step of the way."

So when Hippie Dave heard about a spaghetti-feed fundraiser for Kevin Kram, the generous man who had given so much to the homeless community, whose wife, Danette, was battling a dangerous cancer, he signed on to help.

He wasn't the only one.

On Sunday at the Cherished Ones Ministry building at Second and Indiana, Hippie Dave, about 20 other volunteers and crowds of people raised funds for Kram's family and the homeless of Coeur d'Alene.

"I'm blown away by the amount of people that are here... the amount of people that support Kevin," said John Corcoran, a lead organizer of the event. "My phone is ringing off the hook (for donations)."

The evening's goal was $10,000.

Danette Kram, 57, is currently hospitalized at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. She needs a new liver. Kevin Kram, a contractor by trade, has been standing watch at his wife's side. He has not been able to work for several months, and his finances are stretched very thin.

Kram was with Danette on Sunday, and could not attend the spaghetti feed.

"This means a lot to me and my family," said 28-year-old Andrea Baron of Hayden, the couple's daughter. "For basically as far back as I can remember, my father has been helping out people. Just to see everyone come out, and give back, is phenomenal. Very touching."

Andrea was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. On Jan. 19, doctors removed half of her thyroid. She said the cancer is fairly common, and easy to treat.

Her dad is "doing good," she said. "He spends pretty much all his time (in Seattle)."

Anyone who dropped by the fundraiser was treated to a full-course meal - spaghetti with six kinds of sauce (including chili), salad, a table full of desserts and beverages. Visitors also bid on silent auction prizes, listened to live music, purchased raffle tickets and watched local artist Steven Scroggins create a Valentine's Day painting.

"It's super to see the community turn out and support the family this way," said Garry Loeffler of Coeur d'Alene. "Ken is sort of one of the pioneers (of Coeur d'Alene soup kitchens). It's a great turnout here tonight."

The spaghetti feed served an additional purpose: Raising funds and publicizing the "Spend the Night as a Homeless Person" event that will take place on Saturday.

Raising awareness for the local homeless population, hardy volunteers will sleep outdoors and endure a winter's night.

James Otten of Coeur d'Alene knows firsthand what soup kitchens and shelters can provide for people down on their luck. He dropped in Sunday to enjoy a good meal and support the Kram family.

"If it wasn't for the inspiration of places like (Cherished Ones) helping me out, I would not have made it to where I'm at," Otten said. "I haven't had a lot of interaction with (Kram), but I see a lot of what he does."

Hippie Dave shared similar sentiments.

"In no uncertain terms, Kevin and Cherished Ones, they've saved my life," he said.