Personally, I don't mind the appeals for true hard luck cases (there've been a few where, for example, half the family was wiped out in a car crash).
But they stand next to appeals for money for business ventures, traveling for sports events, religious missions, beauty pageants....I always think that those are odd and look rather crass considering some of the more urgent needs posted.
We were quite poor growing up. We were eligible for free school lunches but my (hardworking) mom would've died before signing us up. So some days I got lunch, other days....
Guess that had an effect on my attitude toward these things....