Islam encourages Muslims to help and serve people. To help someone in difficult times, to save someone from disaster, to protect someone from the enemy, to help the poor and the needy are all different forms of serving and helping people.
The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam helped people in need and told his followers to do the same. He spent all his life in poverty but he never refused help to a needy person. Often there was no food to cook in his house, yet he never turned away a beggar empty handed.
The companions, too followed the example of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam , and often helped poor Muslims. When the Muhajirin migrated to Madinah, they had no belongings with them. The Ansars helped them and shared everything with them.
This is a good example of helping people in need. There are many people who do not have food to eat. There are others who do not have clothes to wear. We can help them by giving them food and clothes or money to buy food and clothes. The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said that a person who tries to help a widow and the poor is like a warrior in the way of Allah.
Allah has promised that He will help and reward all people who devote themselves to the service of humanity. He considers whatever help and service we do for others as done to Himself. Therefore, He will reward us many times for it.