Bailey Snow isn't like other kids.
His Twitter feed says otherwise: He started his spring break at Disneyland, just got his driver's permit and thinks his family is annoying.
Unlike most kids - or most adults for that matter - he saw a need in the community, developed a plan to address it and followed up, said Julie Bornhoeft, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Women Escaping a Violent Environment.
In the summer of 2012, Bailey, 15, started BrickDreams, which collects unused Lego bricks, cleans them up and donates them to children in need.
"Bailey is going to be an incredible philanthropist his entire life because of how seriously he's taking giving already," said Bornhoeft, whose organization has been the primary beneficiary.
Bornhoeft said Bailey's repackaged Lego packs are most often given to kids, ages 10 to 13, who are receiving counseling through WEAVE.
She said it's been a great partnership and the Legos are well-received.
Bailey, a sophomore at Granite Bay High School, said he thought of the idea after hearing a statistic that there are 75 Legos for every kid on Earth. His logic told him that if he had thousands of blocks, there must be some kids with none. His plan was not to give his away - he still plays with them - but to give away those locked away in plastic tins for months or years on end.
Once he asked for donations, they just started pouring in.
"(Finding them) is actually a lot easier than I thought," Bailey said. "I'm taking Legos that aren't being played with anymore."
Bailey said he likes it that Legos are a whole brain activity.
"You are only limited by your imagination. It's not like a toy car (which only has one use)," he said.
Bornhoeft said it's not unusual to find kids who want to help around the holidays or who respond to a specific need.
What set Bailey apart is the fact that he conceived the idea and has stuck with it, Bornhoeft said.
"Bailey is a young kid who loves that Legos have been an outlet for him," Bornhoeft said, "and he wants to share it with others."
For more information or to make a donation, visit Brickdreams.org
Call The Bee's Ed Fletcher, (916) 321-1269. Follow him on Twitter @NewsFletch.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
• Read more articles by Ed Fletcher
Order Reprint
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.