Street Music Week is back, with volunteer performers raising money to support families in the region who are struggling with food insecurity.

In its 20th year, the event will take place during the noon hours today through Friday, along Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d'Alene and Spokane's downtown and Garland District.

“We welcome your participation whether you’re a performer or a community member who cares about feeding the hungry,” said Doug Clark, a former Coeur d'Alene Press employee who founded the annual food bank fundraiser in 2003 as a columnist with the Spokesman-Review. “And we’re looking forward to making the sidewalks sing again.”

A benefit for Second Harvest, Street Music Week performers will have red buckets ready to accept donations that will help families in need.

“Second Harvest is honored to celebrate the 20th year for Street Music Week with Doug and the wonderful group of volunteers and performers who make this happen,” said Jason Clark, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “To everyone who puts dollars into the musicians’ red buckets or donates online, thank you for helping us serve families facing hunger.”

Since Doug Clark first started this event on his own on a downtown Spokane street corner 20 years ago, Street Music Week has grown to attract an average of 300 volunteers each year who sing, dance or play instruments.

“The $290,000-plus we've raised during the past 19 years translates to 1.4 million meals,” Clark said.

He noted his now 20-year-old Red Bucket Brigade is incredibly close to passing the $300,000 mark in donations raised to help feed hungry people.

“Any newcomers who would like to take part can contact me at 509-999-0050 or through dougclarksville@gmail.com,” Clark said.

In addition, the online version of Street Music Week, which was launched while things were shut down during the pandemic, continues to be a companion to the live event.

A link is also available for food bank donations: 2-harvest.org/streetmusicweek.

Read more about Street Music Week in Sunday's Huckleberries column by D.F. (Dave) Oliveria.

Second Harvest was founded in 1971 as a central warehouse for a handful of emergency food pantries in Spokane. Today, hunger solution centers in Spokane and the Tri-Cities supply donated food to 280 partner food banks, meal sites and other programs—including its own Mobile Market—to feed more than 55,000 people each week in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. For more information, visit 2-harvest.org.