That was quick.

There's still a lot of panhandlers though.

New program raises $84,000 for homeless

'DENVER (AP) - A new program that raises money for the homeless by encouraging people to put coins in old parking meters has added to a total of $84,000 collected so far in a fundraising campaign.

People have put about $2,000 into three dozen special parking meters along sidewalks in downtown Denver. Each meter also has a yearlong sponsor donating $1,000.

The parking meters were installed early last month.

Another $23,000 has been raised through donations to canisters at Denver-area King Soopers grocery stores.

The money goes to programs through Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's Road Home initiative - a 10-year effort to end homelessness.

The parking meter program is modeled after one in Baltimore. The idea is to put the money into the meters instead of giving it to panhandlers.'