Mar Ukba's generosity to the poor was extraordinary — but his method of giving was even more remarkable than the amounts. The Talmud (Ketubot 67b) records that he regularly left money at the door of a poor man's house, always in secret, so the recipient would never know who his benefactor was.
One day, the poor man decided to find out. He waited by his door, and when he saw someone approaching, he ran out to see who it was. Mar Ukba and his wife, who had been delivering the money together, fled.
They ran until they came to a bread oven that was still hot from the day's baking. Mar Ukba climbed inside the oven to hide. The heat was unbearable — his feet began to burn. His wife climbed in after him and told him to place his feet on top of hers. Her feet were unharmed by the heat; his were burning.
Mar Ukba was humiliated. Why was his wife's merit greater than his? She explained: "I am always at home. When a poor person comes to the door, I give them food they can eat immediately — ready-made meals. You give money, which they must then spend. Immediate food satisfies hunger faster than money."
The Talmud derives from this story several principles: anonymous charity is the highest form of giving; a husband and wife who give together multiply their merit; and the practical kindness of feeding someone directly outweighs even generous financial support. Mar Ukba would rather burn his feet in an oven than be identified as a donor. That is how seriously the sages took the dignity of the poor.