Charity begins at home.

Care for people close to you, especially those who depend on you, should come before efforts to help people farther away.

The proverb presents generosity as a responsibility to practice nearby first. It does not necessarily rule out helping others once those immediate needs are met.

Use it to urge someone to consider a household member's needs before giving time or resources to a wider cause. It can also express a preference for addressing nearby needs before more distant ones.