I suspect you're going to get a bit of grief for this but I'm here to pat you on the back. I know what it's like trying to get bikes rideable for people who can't afford them when you have no budget.

However, I'd recommend you get a few basic tools, and a crank remover is one of them. In this case, straightening the crank would have been a lot easier if the crank was no longer on the bike. At the same time, you could have pulled the bottom bracket and re-greased it making the whole unit a nicer ride for the recipient. That same tool might also help with your own bikes. Just one example. Build up a tool kit as you need it - if nothing else, it makes working on your own bikes more pleasurable.