Four Lincoln men back from humanitarian trip to Ukraine

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Four Lincoln men set out for Ukraine last month for a mission trip.

They’re now back and are sharing their experience.  

They were following news of the war closely, but nothing could prepare them for what they saw.

“You can see it on the faces of the people that are there as they try to explain what is like living under those conditions,” said Ian Badeer, who went on a trip.

The team — with the help of friends, local organizations and the community — raised over $30,000.

They sent the funds to an Ukranian church and were able to provide over 1,000 boxes of food.  

They were also able to provide some help to soldiers like first-aid kits.

“We also donated things like body armor, some of which was provided by the local Lincoln Police,” Badeer said. 

They also provided construction materials for people affected by war. 

Badeer said they helped a family who had just built their house three months before the war started, only to have it be hit by a rocket.

The group visited a church just blocks away from the war front. 

“Later that day, there were shellings going on in the sky,” Badeer said.

He said that was when they realized they were in a war zone. 

Badeer said none of this would have been possible without the help of volunteers, the community and those who donated.