23rd annual Second Harvest fundraiser hits high notes in downtown Coeur d'Alene

Gil Ward loves putting smiles on faces. Music, he said, is his favorite way to do that.

It’s why he broke into song as he played his guitar on Sherman Avenue. 

“When you’re smiling, when you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you,” Ward crooned smoothly into the microphone, joined by Helena Jordan.  

That drew those coveted smiles from passersby, and Ward beamed as he continued the song. 

“And when you’re laughing, oh when you're laughing, the sun comes shining through,” he said. 

The sun was shining through Monday, the opening day of the 23rd annual Street Music Week in downtown Coeur d’Alene.  

Musicians played for donations from noon to 1 at eight locations during the fundraiser for Second Harvest food bank, which serves North Idaho and Eastern Washington. Country, gospel, Scottish and classical filled the air as shoppers visited stores and restaurants.

One guitar man performed from a bench near Fifth and Sherman. A brass band sat on chairs lined up at The Coeur d’Alene Rotary Centennial Park. The group Muckle Roe found relief from temperatures near 90 as they found shade on the south side of Sherman Avenue. 

As people walked by, some dropped a few dollars in the red bucket marked for the food bank.

Muckle Roe member Jan Clizer said they enjoy being part of Street Music Week as it gives them an opportunity to share their style of music, which is Scottish, Irish and Nordic.

“People have an affinity for it,” Clizer said. “And when there’s an opportunity to help the food bank, that’s something we’re going to do.” 

Just up the street, Edison Abel played more contemporary tunes on his electric five-string viola. It was his first time back to Street music Week after a few years away. 

“Feels pretty good,” he said.

For the past 22 years, musicians of all ages and talents living in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene have participated in this community event. Some are seasoned performers, others, a first-time gig. Either way, Second Harvest benefits.

Over the past 22 years, Street Music Week has raised over $375,000 for Second Harvest, which comes out to roughly 1.5 million meals to the families of Spokane and Idaho's five northern counties. 

Street Music Week runs through Friday. Musicians can still join in by registering at Art Spirit Gallery before noon, picking out a spot in the downtown area and knocking out tunes for an hour. The public can help by tossing money into the plastic buckets. 

Dan Howard churned out a snappy version of “I’ll Fly Away” with his nylon-stringed guitar, which he described as a “prison guitar.” 

“They don’t treat them real good there,” he said. “Then I buy them used after they bang them up.” 

Howard and the guitar once behind bars made a good team Monday, his fourth year in Street Music Week.

"Definitely not for the money,” he said, laughing.  

He doesn’t even mind if people don’t seem to be listening and don’t donate. He knows why he's there.

“Just because I like to play and sing,” he said. 

    Gil Ward laughs as he performs during Street Music Week in downtown Coeur d'Alene on Monday.
  

    Edison Abel plays on Sherman Avenue during Street Music Week on Monday.
  

    Dan Howard sits on a bench at Fifth Street and Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene as he joins Street Music Week on Monday.
  

    Muckle Roe members play during Street Music Week on Monday. Front row, Leslie Rousos. Back row, from left, Russ Oakley, Coy Fullen, Lorna Woelfel, Jan Clizer and Catherine Short.