A short answer would be yes, there were knightly organisations that helped the poor. The powerful knightly orders, such as the Hospitallers and the Templars were formed to protect pilgrims on their travels and provide shelter.

Both of these organisations were founded following the First Crusade, providing armed escorts for pilgrims travelling through the Holy Lands to protect them against brigands, and setting up hospitals and hospices. As time went on they became more powerful, gaining land and wealth.

The Templars in particular were given some extraordinary rights by the Papacy, such as in Omne Datum Optimum, 'every perfect gift' which exempted the order from taxes and tithes. This made them a powerful financial institution and they engaged in moneylending, this moneylending is probably why Philip IV had many of the Templars in France tried for heresy and burned at the stake in 1314. So to answer your question the knightly orders became powerful factions out of their position of helping pilgrims.

Sources:

Barber, Malcolm & Bate, A. K. The Templars: Selected Sources. Manchester, 2002.

Hindley, Geoffrey. A Brief History of the Crusades: Islam and Christianity in the Struggle for World Supremacy. London, 2003.

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