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If You Go

What: Invisible Children Benefit

When: Aug. 30; all day

Where: Derry Township Community Park, Lewistown

Why: Help raise funds and awareness for the enslaved children of northern Uganda

For more information: Contact Jeremiah Reed at 513-5472 or visit www.invisiblechildren.com.

LEWISTOWN - For one local man, an inspirational, yet harrowing true account of northern Uganda's present nightmare made him want to make a difference.

Jeremiah Reed is your average guy; he graduated from Penn College of Technology in Williamsport with a degree in early childhood education and is actively involved with his church's youth group. But about six months ago, a couple, Jonathan and Amanda Morningstar, brought a documentary to Rhodes Memorial Church - the church in which Reed, his wife, Renee, and the Morningstars attend, he said.

This documentary, "Invisible Children," was showed to the church's youth group and made quite an impression on everyone - especially Jeremiah Reed, he said. The film depicts the ongoing crisis in northern Uganda, where children are forced to become soldiers. Reed said this is a country that has had an ongoing civil war for about 20 years.

He said an estimated 20,000 children between the ages of 9 and 12 are forced to serve as soldiers and sexual slaves. A man by the name of Joseph Kony and a religious group by the name of the LRA - Lord's Resistance Army, is responsible for enslaving and kidnapping these young Ugandan children, Reed explained.

"(These men) are going into the bunch of villages and forcing them to be in the army, and burning villages. They (families) have their children abducted," Reed said. "To get away from them, some (families and children) will hide in different villages and small underground parking lots."

Reed was so touched and moved by this horrific but true documentary, he said he personally wanted to become involved in making a difference and helping these children. He decided to consult his wife, the Morningstars and a few others.

"I talked to the youth group and see if they wanted to get involved in it, and they said yes," Reed said. "I then went to our sister church in Yeagertown (Yeagertown United Methodist Church) and consulted their youth group - they all decided to get in."

At first, Reed said he, his wife and the Morningstars decided to show the documentary locally at their church. They advertised solely by word of mouth and with a little help from Facebook.

"So far we have showed the movie multiple times, to the entire community ... we showed it about four or five times," Reed said.

Afterward, the 20 or so participants were given a brief question-and-answer seminar. Reed explained that so many people were so moved from watching the documentary that large donations were made.

"A couple people were so compelled ... $500 or $600 was donated," he said.

The money will go toward the Invisible Children Inc. fund, based out of San Diego, Calif. According to the Invisible Children Web site, all proceeds will help aid change in Uganda and help with advocacy, awareness and events that will lead to the rescue of Joseph Kony's child soldiers.

So far, Reed seems to be quite pleased.

"We're happy with the funds that have been made. We're really wanting to get more awareness made ... it's sheer profit toward the children of Uganda," he said. "I headed up this project because it reached out to me ... and it's been really rewarding."

One final step in Reed's cause is to continue to raise awareness - and funds - at a benefit for the children of northern Uganda.

Several local youth groups gathered to plan an all-day street fair, which will be held on Aug. 30 at Derry Township Community Park, with all proceeds going directly toward funds and relief for Uganda's children and villages. No funds will be kept by any of the youth organizations, Reed added.

For more information, contact Reed at 513-5472. Additional information about the topic can be found on the Web site www.invisiblechildren.com.