Many phrases that discuss tzedakah are written in double. For example, (14:22) עשר תתן נתן (15:10), ידך את תפתח פתוח (15:8), תעשר, and the reward is also doubled as it states (15:4) כי אלקיך 'ה יברכך ברך. The Kli Yakar (14:22) writes, "All phrases about tzedakah are doubled because one gives charity with his hand and he says kind words [to the poor] with his mouth."
The Gemara (Bava Basra 9:) states, פרוטה הנותן א"בי מתברך בדברים והמפייסו ברכות בשש מתברך לעני ברכות, "One who gives a prutah to the poor receives six brachos, and if he says kind words to appease him, he is blessed with eleven brachos." (Tosfos explains that if he does both, he gives tzedakah and says kind words, he will receive eighteen brachos.)
The Rambam (Matnas Aniyim 10:4-5) writes, "Whoever gives tzedakah with a sad face, he looks down to the ground, even if he gave him a thousand gold coins, he lost his reward. Rather, give money with a kind face and with joy and moan together with him over his tzaar, as it states (Iyov 30:25) בכיתי לא אם לאביון נפשי עגמה יום לקשה, 'Whether I did not weep for one who had a difficult time, or whether my soul was [not] grieved for the needy.' Speak with him words of comfort and chizuk, as it states (Iyov 29:13) ארנן אלמנה ולב, 'I would make the widow's heart sing for joy.' If a poor person asks from you, and you have nothing to give him, appease him with your words. It is forbidden to shout at the poor or to raise your voice at him because his heart is broken and humble. It states (Tehillim 51:19) תבזה לא אלקים ונדכה נשבר לב, 'A broken and crushed heart, Hashem will not despise.' And it states (Yeshayah 57:15) שפלים רוח להחיות נדכאים לב ולהחיות, 'to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the crushed.' Woe to the person who shames the poor. Woe is to him. Rather, be like his father, both with compassion and with words, as it states (Iyov 29:16) לאביונים אנכי אב, 'I was a father to the needy.'"
It states, (15:11) כן על הארץ מקרב אביון יחדל לא כי ולאבינך לעניך לאחיך ידך את תפתח פתח לאמר מצוך אנכי בארצך, "For there will never cease to be needy within the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, the poor, and the needy in your land." Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin zt'l says that the pasuk can be read as מצוך אנכי כן על תפתח פתח לאמר as follows, "לאמר מצוך אנכי, I command you to tell the poor, תפתח פתח the day will yet come when you will be the one who is opening up your hand to help the poor."
The Chinuch (mitzvah 479) writes, "Now, my son, don't think tzedakah is only to give to the poor, people who don't have bread or clothing. The Torah wants us to be kind and help people in any way we can. Whoever helps his friend with money or in any other way, such as with kind words, is considered to have given tzedakah, and his reward is great."
The Chinuch reveals a wonderful chiddush: Tzedakah isn't just with money, and it isn't only for the poor. You can give tzedakah by sharing kind words, compliments, good counsel, and even a smile can be counted as tzedakah. Tzedakah means to help your fellow man in any way you can.
A hint to this lesson is that the pasuk that discusses tzedakah states הדבר, which can be translated as דיבור, speech. It states (15:10) נתון ...לו תתן, "You shall surely give him [tzedakah] ... הזה הדבר בגלל כי for because of your דיבור, kind words, ידיך משלח ובכל מעשיך בכל אלקיך 'ה יברכך, Hashem your G-d will bless you in all your work and all your endeavors." The brachos from giving tzedakah aren't only when we give money. It is also when we share kind, helpful, friendly words with our fellow man. Many people are missing this, and to give it to them is like giving them tzedakah.
We can take this further to other needs, such as a kind word. If someone lacks it, and we give it to him, it is a form of tzedakah.
Chazal say כמת חשוב מצורע, a metzora is considered dead. This is because the metzora is banished from the camp and dwells alone. (Vayikra 13:46) מושבו למחנו מחוץ ישב בדד, "He shall dwell isolated. His dwelling shall be outside the camp." He lives alone, distant from people, and that loneliness is very painful. There are so many lonely people, and with a smile and a kind word, you can make their day and much more than that!
