Photo by Bill Green Amy Dockendorf is putting together a two-day benefit concert at Cafe 611 on North Market Street that she's named "Unity for Community: A Benefit Weekend Concert for the Survivors of Darfur and Our American Troops." The event will take place Aug. 16 and 17.

Amy Dockendorf has, too. And she didn't drop the ball.

"I went to a benefit concert last fall at Frederick Community College to raise money and awareness around the crisis in Darfur," Dockendorf said. "One of the groups at the event was Citizens 4 Humanity, and they had a lot of literature available about the issue, and it inspired me to do something. I think it's easy to forget how lucky most of us are to be born in this country."

The 24-year-old is organizing a two-day benefit concert on Aug. 16 and 17 at Cafe 611 on North Market Street.

The concert is named "Unity for Community: A Benefit Weekend Concert for the Survivors of Darfur and Our American Troops."

Dockendorf spent the past six months coordinating the project. She obtained early commitments from local disc jockeys and has two burgeoning national acts from Baltimore headlining: modern rockers Fools & Horses and The Niki Bar Band, which has played several times overseas for U.S. troops.

Ros Wilting, an indie rock duo from Monrovia , signed on early and Dockendorf recently added Blue Nevada, a Frederick rock and psychedelic jam band, and Freddie Long, as well as local Christian band Fish in the Sand. She's planned for five hours of live music and spinning each day to raise money to assist survivors of Darfur and U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dockendorf graduated from Gov. Thomas Johnson High School in 2002. She earned an associate's degree from Frederick Community College in 2004 and then a bachelor's degree from George Mason University in 2007, majoring in psychology.

Raising money for the displaced victims of violence in Darfur and the U.S. military troops in the Middle East might not seem connected, but they are to Dockendorf.

"I think they are both struggling and fighting for freedom," she said. "The survivors in Darfur are struggling for their own freedom from genocide and the troops in Iraq are fighting to protect our freedom."

Dockendorf has several friends in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army who have served overseas.

She intends to split the ticket proceeds, with half going to Mercy Corps, a nonprofit Darfur aid organization. She'll use the other half to make care packages for troops.