The Lego Lover

On February 23, Igor Sidorov and two of his sons fled their home in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

The very next day, the Russian invasion began. 

🇺🇦 ➡️ 🇮🇪 New situation, new life... Igor and his boys made it safely to Ireland, where they have been staying since. But due to the hastiness of the evacuation, the three Ukrainians only brought a small suitcase of essential belongings; just taking what was needed as they fled. 

• Eleven-year-old Andrii was devastated when he realized he'd have to leave behind his most prized possession: his beloved Lego collection. 

🧱 More than just a toy... Andrii has been building Legos his entire life. Even as a toddler, the boy was always creating with the plastic blocks. 

• "My son started building with Lego at age 3," said Igor. "All the time he makes different toys.”
• Without his Legos to pass the time in his new home, Igor stated his son "was so sad." Andrii's Legos are more than just a toy to him; the youngster is passionate about building, and even has a YouTube channel where he vlogs about his original creations. 

🤲 Put it out into the universe... Wanting to help his son in any way possible, Igor put out an online plea asking if anyone in the area could donate their old Legos. 

• Igor explained that his son is "engaged in the creation and construction of various Lego toys on a semiprofessional level with out instruction," adding that Andrii is a "very clever boy."
• "We left all our Lego in Ukraine," Igor wrote. "Help me please! We need any lego, any size and color in any quantity."

🌍🧱 And the universe will deliver... Within 24 hours, Lego sets started flooding the hotel lobby where Igor and his sons were staying. 

• From old hand-me-down blocks to brand new boxed sets, Andrii was soon swimming in thousands of Legos to fill his time. 
• The packages started coming from people outside of Ireland as well, with generous strangers all over the world asking how they could get Andrii his favorite toys. 

💬 What they're saying: "There is Lego all around me!" Igor told the Post, which shared that nearly 50 sets have arrived. "In the reception [area], in the room, everywhere." 

The most important thing to the dedicated father, though, is his son's happiness. 

• "The first thing for me is to save my kids and give them a happy life," said Igor. "I must not think about me, but about my kids... I think they are happy to be here."

🤔 And what does Andrii think of his gifts?... "Glory to Ireland!" the eleven-year-old wrote in one of his Instagram posts featuring a Lego creation of an Irish flag. "Thanks to all these wonderful and very kind people with very big hearts!"