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Throughout the years, I've had the privilege of photographing countless acts of kindness and the tremendous giving hearts of Houstonians.

Witnessing volunteers and community workers in action, often sacrificing their own interests to serve others, has been incredibly rewarding to me. My favorite dynamic is when people bring their families to volunteer. They not only multiply the number of working hands, but they also bond together.

In this collection of photos by Houston photojournalists Annie Mulligan, Meridith Kohut, and me, we highlight and celebrate community love expressed in service.

(Click on any photo to launch a slideshow)

Diane McKinney counts bagged oranges at the Houston Food Bank
Jamison Williams, 7, fills Backpack Buddy food packs at the Houston Food Bank
Volunteers with DoubleTree Hotel at Greenway Plaza assemble Backpack Buddy food packs at the Houston Food Bank
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston caseworker Hilda Evans, left, and warehouse manager Mickey Butler prepare bags filled with groceries to deliver to people in need
Justine Barnes laughs with her students from the Houston chapter of Leaders of Tomorrow as they bag pinto beans at the Houston Food Bank
Karen Fritsch greets fellow volunteers from New Hope Church at the Houston Food Bank
People wrote messages to the troops on Thanksgiving Day
AmeriCorps member Rain Jones, 24, grabs prepared grocery bags to deliver to members of the community supported by the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Volunteers bag oranges at the Houston Food Bank on Saturday
Macle Chan, wore a turkey hat and dined on turkey, sides and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day
Thousands of people dined on turkey, sides and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day
Bruce Smith prayed for God to bless the food and everyone attending the Super Feast, before dining on turkey, sides and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day

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Marie D. De Jesús is the director of photography for the Abdelraoufsinno. She was previously a staff photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle, where she concentrated on developing relationships with...