COEUR d'ALENE - Helpful hearts and kind crooners collected nearly $7,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank during Street Music Week.

The event took place June 9 to 13 for the first time in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

"It was a tremendous success, both financially and within the community," said event coordinator Jim Lyons of Spokane. "We had great response from the public, great response from the businesses. It went off without a hitch."

Lyons is an emergency room registered nurse for Kootenai Health, which acted as a sponsor for the event. Kootenai Health donated $1,000 to the cause. A few of its nurses and physicians, including Lyons, went busking on the street.

"It's just nice for Kootenai Health to be out in the community, helping in other ways besides just providing health care," Lyons said.

Street Music Week has occurred in Spokane for 12 years. Lyons said the Spokane event went on simultaneously with Appleton, Wis., and the debut in Coeur d'Alene.

"I'm very thrilled and excited that Coeur d'Alene has come on as the third state to be involved in this," he said.

This year, Spokane and Coeur d'Alene buskers raised nearly $26,000. Through the 12 years of the event's existence, Lyons said buskers have collected more than $90,000, with the $100,000 milestone sure to be met next year.

Lyons said the Second Harvest Food Bank found that this was a great time of year to have Street Music Week in Coeur d'Alene.

More than 20 busking acts performed around red collection buckets in the event's five days.

Those who wish to donate still can at www.streetmusicweek.com.