The DST offers a helping hand to those who need it and are sincere about wanting to get off the streets. The DST tries to keep downtown clean. It seems unfair to downtown merchants to shoulder this burden alone.
I would like to suggest that Palo Alto residents help out by donating in the Downtown Streets Team cans that have found their way onto many retail/restaurant counters or by donating online at www.paloaltodowntown.com or mailing a check to DST, 542 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301.
And something you can do that's free is just say "Thank you" when you pass any of the yellow T-shirted workers on the street.