The Mission Omaha project is bringing 250 volunteers to Omaha to help elderly or disabled homeowners with improvements to their houses.

Volunteers from seven different states will be renovating 32 homes across the city.

Michael Fideler is one of the homeowners. He is a third-generation retired military person. He says the last time his house was painted was 15 years ago. "I've done it a couple times over the 30 years that I've lived in this house, but it's been quite a few years now."

Fideler has an artificial leg and goes for dialysis three times a week. He says without the help from the student volunteers, the house would not get painted.

John Hurdle is a volunteer who has been working with the project for five years. He is from Oklahoma. "It started out, of course, my mom forced me to come, but you know you end up having a great time and get to hang out with your friends."

Mary Rosenthal, the project's organizer, is thrilled so many teens show interest in the program, "These kids could be home sitting by a pool and hanging out with their friends, and they've taken a week off to come to Omaha to basically share their faith and help somebody who's in need."

Volunteers benefit from the project as well.

"Well you learn how to do house repairs, which is good, and you get to know something about your resident which is always a little eye opening," said Hurdle.

The crew working on Fideler's house learned his father was pictured in a 1943 LIFE magazine article while serving in WWII. Fideler had a copy, but lost it years ago.

Rosenthal found another copy on Ebay, and gave it to him Tuesday. The crew hopes they can give him more than one gift he can treasure.

NP Dodge was the corporate sponsor for Mission Omaha, and members of the community have donated to the project, but it is till $17,000 short. If you would like to donate, click here.