Idaho Falls teens travel to Ukraine to gift homes for families affected by war

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Local teens raised enough money to gift three Ukrainian families new modular homes.

In efforts with the non-profit organization, To Ukraine with Love, Chase Miller, Lachlan Haacke, Jaden Murphy and Landon Murphy spent a week in Ukraine preparing the homes and giving keys to families.

The three families they were able to help lost their homes and some family members due to multiple bombs dropped.

Miller says he was happy to see what they were able to do for these families especially a 70-year-old named Hanna. Two rockets dropped on her home and burned it down from the inside out.

Miller says she told them that she never thought she would have a roof over her head in her lifetime.

Haacke says hearing single mother, Olena's story broke his heart.

He says she told the group that a missle flew right over son Misha's head. That's when Olena, Misha and Olena's father made a run for it. However, Olena's father was too old, so he ended up going back to the home into the cellar for protection.

Eventually, Olena and Misha made their way back to their home and found out her father had died from the missles.

So, Haacke says he was very glad he was able to give them a glimpse of hope with providing them a place where they can stay.

Jaden Murphy says he handed a set of house keys to a family who was devastated by the sight of seeing their home and possessions destroyed. He says that these are good people who are deserving of help.

After returning home, the group says that their efforts won't stop and they will continue to provide modular homes to help more families and give them a sense of hope.

They say they are very fortunate to live in America and this trip helped open their eyes to how many real, genuine people need our help.

For more information and to donate and support their cause you can click HERE.