A UBC Okanagan professor is looking to help people in Ukraine in the new year.

Ray Taheri, Professor of Teaching, Manufacturing, Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI), and Mechanical and UBCO visited Ukraine to honour a friend of his two years ago. After he arrived home, the war between Ukraine and Russia started and since then, he's wanted to do something he can to help, no matter how big or small.

"You have to be there to understand the gravity of the situation," said Taheri. "You see on TV, you hear on radio, but it doesn't resonate how fragile the situation is."

Now for the last year and a half, Taheri has been collecting toys, books and more and he plans to take them to children in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania. 

"I don't think I can make a huge impact, but I understand this would be a small, light pixel in a very dark portrait, but still it counts," said Taheri. 

Despite Ukraine changing to celebrate traditional Christmas on Dec. 25, many Ukrainians still celebrate the holiday on the Julian calendar, which takes on place January 7. That's when Taheri will be going to Ukraine for two weeks with a suitcase filled with 150-200 toys.

"Christmas time is a very special time and the Christmas spirit has been robbed from those people by war, and I think they deserve a little happiness, even if it brings a glimpse, a beacon of hope," said Taheri.

Taheri joked that it hasn't been easy to sneak toys into his home with his young daughters there, but he's used it as a lesson for them, to teach them about love and sacrifice and helping those in need.

Some of the toys he's taking have been made by his students and the Makerspace program, who made 3D-printed dragons (a symbol of power and victory, according to Taheri) and make them yellow and blue, the colours of the Ukraine flag.

"We should be part of the solution or we automatically are part of the problem," added Taheri.

Over the years, Taheri has saved money to help as well, but also recently started a GoFundMe for the public to help him on his journey.

As of Dec. 17, $1,120 has been raised. Anyone interested in donating can do so on the GoFundMe website, under .