No matter what your station in life, it is wonderful to help and terrible to be taken advantage of -- I once was in NYC, a woman asked me for change. I had none and honestly told her so (was walking without my purse - lingering outside a store waiting for my friends who had gone in to browse).

I asked her for a cigarette. She didn't have one. A moment later she returned with a cig and a light, and a look of accomplishment. Before I lit it, I found my friends and returned to her with some change. No matter how down and out you are, you can help yourself, and others, too ... And I was motivated to go the extra steps to help this person.