The Holidays are approaching, and many of us are rushing to find the perfect gift for our loved ones and are already stressed about our impending seasonal plans. However, the Holidays are also the time of year when we are most strongly reminded of the importance of giving back; to our families, our friends, our communities and even to those we don't know.
In honor of the arrival of Holiday goodwill, we asked our readers to send us photos that celebrated the spirit of giving for this week's Photo Challenge. We received photos of food drives, everyday acts of kindness and even images of the amazing volunteer campaigns that arose in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Today we're celebrating #GivingTuesday at Mashable, a new national holiday that promotes giving back to your community in original and innovative ways. The images above show how powerful the spirit of giving truly is. Whether it's the possibilities suggested by a a donation of food or the tradition of a grandparent giving a music lesson to her grandchild, the photos you sent show the importance of giving without even using words. Thanks for your amazing submissions!