When the kind old lady gives the family a ride in the Arizona desert, what does her repeated use of the word “poor” infer about the Walls family?

In this context, the word "poor" carries dual meaning. One, the family is essentially poor.... they have nothing. Their car is inoperable, they haven't enough food.... their rolling through life without a net. On the other hand, the word also exhibits the context of "those poor children", meaning the famiy is pitiable... she feels sorry for them.