The Christmas shopping season is in full swing today on Black Friday. Millions of people will flock to their nearest store to get hot deals on the busiest shopping day of the season.

The shopping continues on Small Business Saturday and then Cyber Monday, one of the busiest days of the year for online shopping.

Those three days have become synonymous with the Thanksgiving weekend. But there’s another important day during this stretch that you may not know about.

Nov. 29 is known as Giving Tuesday, the official start of the charitable season. Giving Tuesday started in 2012 and is a movement that celebrates charitable donations during the holiday season.

Last year, $116.7 million was raised on Giving Tuesday, according to the www.givingtuesday.org.

The day is a great way to give back to an area nonprofit and to really make an impact in the community. And if giving back in itself isn’t enough motivation, keep in mind that tax season is coming up and any donation may be tax deductible.

A lot of the attention this weekend will be on shopping, but don’t forget to give as well.