1 Timothy 5:16 gives us a rule in the case of widows, which we can probably generalize.
Quote:
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If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
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If an individual can help out without involving the church, that is fine: but the purpose of that isn't to prevent the church from helping the poor, but rather to keep them free to assist those who have no other recourse.