the most i will give in cash is one dollar. i prefer to give them food or drink. when my husband's work boots and jeans get beyond useful for masonry construction, i'll wash the jeans and knock the mortar off the boots and keep them in the back seat of my car - this has generated some odd looks from folks who were expected a cash donation.
i bare no ill will to how anyone else chooses to respond to this. it feels a bit like the OP had a bit of an agenda rather that just posing a question to the group, particularly with the Oy Vey comment.......