It is a bit overwhelming to say the least. We all want to help the less fortunate during the holiday season but, unless your pockets are deeper than Douglas Lake, you can’t give to them all. And the problem is — if it can be called a problem — they are all deserving.

We at the The Mountain Press are coordinating The Santa Fund, which benefits seniors from Douglas Cherokee and needy children from the Boys & Girls Clubs in Sevier County.

The Lord’s Child hosted its annual Christmas in Appalachia event this week for 750 children and to ensure that 350 families will have enough food for a family of six.

Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries held its annual coat giveaway last weekend at First United Methodist Church in Sevierville, helping around 2,000 people have jackets to keep them warm through what could be a bitterly cold and wet winter.

Local members of the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program worked industriously for many months to assure that between 6,000 and 7,000 children would have presents under their trees.

Sevier County’s Teen Christmas program reached out to provide clothes and other materials for the older kids during the holiday season.

The Salvation Army is distributing presents today and Saturday for the 750 children represented on its Angel Trees — and outside of many area stores are the Salvation Army bell ringers.

Student organizations within many schools are collecting food and clothing.

Although not directly related to Christmas, the United Way of Sevier County is putting on on a final, frenetic push to reach its 2009 goal of $500,000 to help underwrite the myriad agencies it supports.

The Sevier County Humane Society held recent events to raise money for the furry friends it houses while they await homes.

Relay For Life volunteers are wrapping presents at Tanger Five Oaks outlet mall through the 24th to help the American Cancer Society.

Certainly that is not all of the worthy causes for which charities have been recruiting as Christmas draws nigh. Unemployment in Sevier County, while not as high as in some parts of the state, is still considerable, and despite assurances that the recession is drawing to an end, times are still tough for many.

Even those fortunate enough to have jobs may have found it necessary to cut corners and become more frugal. The question begs: Which of the charities is most deserving?

And the answer is: all of them. The best advice is to choose the one — or ones — closest to your heart, and give what you can afford to give. Any gift in these difficult times will certainly be greatly appreciated.