Idaho teens travel to Ukraine, gift families new homes amid war

MAKARIV, Ukraine — Three Ukrainian households have new houses due to a bunch of Idaho teenagers who raised $50,000 for the humanitarian journey.

Chase Miller, Lachlan Haacke, Landon and Jaden Murphy spent practically per week in Ukraine placing the ultimate touches on modular houses they bought utilizing the donations they raised. The kids mentioned it was a life-changing expertise.

“It’s unreal. It’s laborious to consider what occurred in Ukraine,” Landon Murphy mentioned. “It positively exhibits me how fortunate I’m to not stay in a wore-torn nation.” 

The modular houses have been constructed and delivered by a Ukrainian firm the group got here into contact with on a earlier journey. Non-profit ToUkraineWithLove.org helped discover the households who would obtain the totally furnished houses, which value practically $15,000 every.

The primary dwelling went to a household of 5. The group was in a position to construct their new dwelling proper subsequent to the previous one, which was decreased to rubble through the conflict.

“Every part was destroyed. You possibly can see remnants of a few of the kitchenware and the place the beds was once,” Chase Miller mentioned.

The work attracted close by residents who have been desirous to share their conflict tales with the boys. Landon Murphy recalled speaking with a lady who misplaced her mom and her daughter throughout an assault within the twin. She was left to look after an 8-month-old grand child, with out a roof over her head.

“They misplaced every thing, they misplaced their dwelling,” Murphy mentioned. “There are such a lot of different households who might assist if we raised extra money from the neighborhood.”

The kids mentioned at occasions they too caught a glimpse of what residing in a conflict zone was like.

“After we have been within the bunker, we simply waited till the air raid sirens have been carried out,” Chase Miller mentioned.

They mentioned though the journey was strenuous, being there in particular person to reward these houses to the households in want was value it.

“Everybody was tremendous shocked and tremendous emotional they usually have been crying,” Miller mentioned. “Everybody was hugging one another and it was actually touching to see.”

The kids are hoping to lift extra funds to do a second journey and assist extra households rebuild their new lives.

“There’s all the time a possibility to assist, and that if sufficient individuals assist, we are able to actually change lives,” Miller mentioned.

For extra data on how one can assist, click on right here.