this is what we wanted to avoid... IMO: better send a regular amount so that they will be able to stretch the budget for the whole month...
I knew someone who just gave money to the family when they request for it: turned out that the family started making excuses & reasons that they needed money (like: needed a new sofa, then next month: new fridge, next month pay hospital bills etc - end up more costly...) quite sad though, as he/she is really workinghard here just to send them money...