As important as it is to help the poor with acts of sharing and charity, it is even MORE important to help people BECOME " poor in spirit "  as Matthew records the beatitudes!

 .   .   .   "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit"   .    . 

the ones who recognize their total need for a savior,
 their total dependence on God for everything - 
their spiritual poverty compared to God's infinite spiritual wealth,
 their dependence on God  even for the graces without which they cannot live a moral life.

The possession of material goods or the lack of material goods is practically insignificant when compared to the importance of being Poor in Spirit!

Becoming poor in spirit will bring about a humble, loving mind set from which many other good deeds will flow, including helping the materially poor.

St. Francis epitomized this throughout his life.