Hillside, U.S.A. — Thanksgiving is just days away, and those residing in New Jersey and New York who struggled before Hurricane Sandy are under even greater stress to put food on the table this holiday season and beyond. Many people are struggling simply to restock their refrigerators from what was lost in the storm.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) – the largest food bank in the state – has been working to feed those who might otherwise go without food, including families, seniors and children. The FoodBank, however, has experienced two-to-three times the need for help. To help support its relief efforts and ensure that no one goes hungry, the CFBNJ announced on November 19, a partnership with celebrity auction venue CharityFolks.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised from this partnership will go toward the CFBNJ and its New York-area partners.

The auction, which begins November 19 on www.charityfolks.com/sandy, features experiences donated by luminaries to help people displaced and left hungry by the superstorm. Anyone can bid to win auction items, which include:

• Join Sarah Jessica Parker & Andy Cohen for Dinner at Blue Hill in New York City
• Meet Selena Gomez on the Set of Her Upcoming Music Video Shoot
• Create Chatter when Glenn Close Records your Personal Voicemail Message
• Have An Unforgettable Night of Illusion with David Blaine at his Private NYC Studio
• Get Styled by Kim & Kourtney Kardashian at Dash in NYC
• Be Enlightened with an Impossible-to-Get Private Reading with Renowned Psychic John Edward
• Meet Kelly Ripa & Michael Strahan with VIP Tickets to a Taping of Live! with Kelly & Michael
• Have Breakfast with NYSE Euronext CEO Duncan Niederauer & Privately Tour the Exchange
• Lunch with legendary author Judy Blume and an aspiring writer
• Indulge in Lunch at the Food Network’s Kitchen at Chelsea Market & Tour the Studio
• Meet Renowned American Blues Singer-Songwriter Bonnie Raitt with VIP Tickets to her Show

Others participating in the auction, include: Nicole Kidman, Billy Baldwin, Derek Jeter, Jackson Browne, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Chelsea Handler, among others.

“In normal times, one in five New Jersey children go to bed hungry and 1.6 million New Yorkers struggle to put food on their tables,” actor and CharityFolks.com spokesman Billy Baldwin said. “These are not normal times. Millions have lost power – many have lost their homes and belongings – and it continues to get colder. This initiative will have an immediate and profound impact on the families who have suffered the most.”

The need, however, continues to be great, and more donations are being sought. Companies and high-profile individuals interested in donating an item or experience for an auction to benefit victims can contact Kelly Fiore, CEO of Charity Folks, by email at kfiore@charityfolks.com.

CharityFolks.com hosted a similar auction in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, raising $650,000 that was deployed within weeks of the disaster.

The largest food bank in New Jersey, the CFBNJ has worked tirelessly since Hurricane Sandy hit, distributing more than 100,000 pounds of food daily. As the chair organization for New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NJVOAD), the FoodBank has helped to coordinate aid throughout the state, including local and emergency shelters, food pantries and its traditional distribution network.

Image Courtesy : Photo Works / Shutterstock.com

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Clearwater, U.S.A. — Now in its 33rd year, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, taking place from October 18 through 21, 2012 will feature top national artists including Bonnie Raitt, The Avett Brothers, Mindi Abair and Friends and Esperanza Spalding, amongst others. Program information and advance tickets are now available from http://www.clearwaterjazz.com/.

Presented in the 20-acre waterfront Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater, overlooking beautiful Clearwater Harbor and the majestic Memorial Causeway Bridge, the Jazz Holiday is four days and four nights of some of the best live performances in the world. The music is complimented by the area’s warm fall weather, miles of world-famous Gulf beaches, brilliant sunsets, nearby attractions, and accommodations and dining to suit every taste and budget.

One of the longest-running and best known events in the U.S., the mission of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation is to be the leading proponent of jazz entertainment and education in Florida through the annual presentation of a world-class, live music festival. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that has been center-stage for numerous scholarship and educational activities to benefit the music students of our community-from the blues-loving beginners to piano-playing proteges, and everyone in between.

Advance tickets are now available for $10 plus a small fee. Tickets at the doors will be $15. Children 12 and under are free. Limited Reserved Seating and VIP tickets are also available. More information about the 33rd Clearwater Jazz Holiday is available online at http://www.clearwaterjazz.com/ and www.facebook.com/ClearwaterJazz.

About Clearwater

Clearwater is an ideal destination for travelers of all ages and interests occupying prime real estate alongFlorida’s stunning Gulf Coast. As a top, year round location for both leisure and business, Clearwater boasts an endless supply of sun, warm weather, great dining, along with extensive outdoor activities both on land and at sea. Clearwater Beach is consistently ranked among America’s most beautiful and the city is also home to a wide variety of sporting and music events, including Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training and the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday.

Image Courtesy of   theogeo

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