Why did her parents refuse any help?

Jeannette's parent refused all help because they didn't take charity or handouts.... they could take care of their own.

Although we were the poorest family on Little Hobart Street, Mom and Dad never applied for welfare or food stamps, and they always refused charity. When teachers gave us bags of clothes from church drives, Mom made us take them back. "We can take care of our own," Mom and Dad liked to say. "We don't accept handouts from anyone."