I would always advocate for skills over charity because by enabling a person with a particular kind of skill it goes to show that you are teaching them how to fish and not just feeding them with the fish as the popular saying goes. Most people often confused charity with giving of monetary gifts to people who are in need but reverse is the case because even in the Bible, alms giving is not limited to money but it cuts across every aspect which includes food items, teaching, cleaning, helping the poor, granting AIDS scholarships and so many more.
Recently, I watched a story on social media where a philanthropist came out to accuse a lady of disguising as been poor when at one point in time this person has helped her to establish herself so that she can be financially stable.
Apparently, when this woman was given the large sum of money to take care of herself and her children she spent it recklessly and within three months she was back on the streets again. In turn, people were accusing this philanthropist that you do not give people money especially when you know that what they really need is to learn a skill that would help them function in life.
Often times when you give people money they do not appreciate it and it is hurtful because your effort and hard work put in making that money is regarded as useless and ungrateful by another person. In other words, this is why I subscribe to using my money to buy food items or household things to gift out to people who needs them and who would appreciate them with all their hearts.
This is my participation in the 
For this prompt, tell us what you think: should money always be used for charity, or should a skill be taught instead?"