Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett reacts as a Millennium Falcon LEGO is unveiled to her at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Scott Gano helps piece together a Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon at the Goodwill where he works in Santa Ana on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The $800, 7,541-piece spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

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Students from Mrs. Gerhard’s third-grade class check out a Millennium Falcon LEGO set after it was given to volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Taylor Harkins, looks through the underbelly of a Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon at the Goodwill where he works in Santa Ana on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The $800, 7,541-piece spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett looks at a Millennium Falcon LEGO set with students from Mrs. Gerhard’s third-grade class at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Scott Gano helps piece together a Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon at the Goodwill where he works in Santa Ana on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The $800, 7,541-piece spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

It’s a group effort putting together a 7,541-piece Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon at the Goodwill in Santa Ana on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The employees were rushing to finish the piece so they can donate the piece as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. Working are Alex Mercado, from left, Ryan Smith, Taylor Harkins and Scott Gano. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers at the Goodwill in Santa Ana scramble to put together a 7,541-piece Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers at the Goodwill in Santa Ana scramble to put together a 7,541-piece Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chewbacca hides out in a 7,541-piece Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon being but together by Goodwill workers on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Scott Gano helps piece together a Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon at the Goodwill where he works in Santa Ana on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The $800, 7,541-piece spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

Ryan Smith, Goodwill senior director of online operations, helps piece together a Lego Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon in Santa Ana on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The $800, 7,541-piece spaceship will be donated as a surprise to Jeanna Bassett, an art teacher at Concordia Elementary, whose collections were destroyed by vandals last week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett says hello to a Millennium Falcon LEGO set at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett reacts as she enters Mrs. Gerhard’s third-grade class before being surprised with the return of a Millennium Falcon LEGO set at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett reacts as Ted Mollenkramer, E-commerce Business Operations Manager for OC Goodwill, unveils a Millennium Falcon LEGO set at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. Her 30-year-old collection will be reconstructed over the holiday break by volunteers from LUGOLA, an adult LEGO fan club based in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett talk with OC Goodwill employees Scott Gano, Taylor Harkins and Ted Mollenkramer in her office at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Students from Mrs. Gerhard’s third-grade class applaud after volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett was presented a Millennium Falcon LEGO set at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett looks over her re-constructed Millennium Falcon LEGO with students from Mrs. Gerhard’s third-grade class at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. Her 30-year-old collection will be reconstructed over the holiday break by volunteers from LUGOLA, an adult LEGO fan club based in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Volunteer art teacher Jeanna Bassett looks at a Millennium Falcon LEGO set with students from Mrs. Gerhard’s third-grade class at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente on Thursday, December 20, 2018. A group from OC Goodwill spent 46 man-hours constructing the set after hers was destroyed by vandals during a break-in at the school’s library just after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

SAN CLEMENTE — Jeanna Bassett was heading to her third-grade art class at Concordia Elementary School on Thursday morning, Dec. 20, when she received something she never expected.

As she pulled her cart up to the classroom, more than 30 students began clapping and cheering. Local media filled the room.

Bassett dropped the handle to her cart and left the cart outside. Then she did a little jig as she walked in.

“I thought we’re doing art,” she said, looking around smiling.

That’s when Rob McKane, Concordia’s school principal, told her what was up.

“A lot of people have shown you support,” he said, describing the massive community effort since vandals broke into the school in late November and destroyed 30-year-old “Star Wars” Lego sets Bassett had on display in the library. “So, has Goodwill of Orange County. They summoned the force to help you rebuild.”

With that announcement, Ted Mollenkramer, the e-commerce business operations manager for Goodwill OC, introduced Taylor Harkins, 37, of Costa Mesa and Scott Gano, 32, of Brea. Harkins and Gano make up Goodwill’s Lego Team. They typically spend their days sorting and organizing donated Legos for re-sale to benefit the Santa Ana-based nonprofit.

Wheeling a large box in the room, the two men revealed Bassett’s surprise — a brand new Millennium Falcon made of Legos. The pair spent 46 man-hours snapping together 7,541 Lego pieces to make Thursday’s deadline.

“Ah, that’s what I wanted,” Bassett, 72, said as tears of joy streamed down her face. “You guys are my heroes!”

Recovery plan

Harkins and Gano began working on the “Star Wars” set Dec. 14. Their plan to speed-build the Millennium Falcon and have it ready before Christmas was meant to provide some happiness for Bassett and her students. It was also meant to replace a Millennium Falcon in her display that had been shattered to pieces.

The break-in at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente was reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 26 as Bassett and her students returned from Thanksgiving break. About 125 Lego sets had been demolished with some pieces found in fragments.

School officials said Thursday, Dec. 20, that some of the vandals have been identified and are local middle and high school students.

The crime generated support from the school’s parent community and plans were developed to help Bassett rebuild the destroyed sets. A team of Lego master builders is scheduled to come to the school on Friday and begin the rebuilding process.

Source of inspiration

Bassett’s collection had been on display in the school’s library for years. Most of the sets were assembled by her sons more than 30 years ago.

She brought the displays to the school after her home became over-populated with “Star Wars” Legos, she said. The display was meant to be an inspiration to students who either already play with Legos or have a curiosity to start.

Bassett also held lunchtime builds and coordinated a Lego Club through which students took sets home once they completed them.

“If anything happens to someone in the Lego community, I want to reach out and help them,” said Harkins, who has worked at Goodwill for more than six years. “We are here to support her.”

The Millennium Falcon Lego set, which includes a 500-page construction manual, was donated to Goodwill by an anonymous donor. Upon receipt, it was delivered to Harkins, who began putting it together. Gano, who is Harkins’ assistant on Goodwill’s Lego Team, jumped in to help.

Both agreed the Millennium Falcon would be just the thing to help Bassett and the students forget about the destruction of the sets. “Because it’s so close to Christmas, we hope it will bring back the holiday spirit,” Harkins said.

Gano, a huge “Star Wars” fan, said working on the project was an honor. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to build something this grand,” he said.

When Harkins and Gano needed to take breaks, other Goodwill employees stepped in to assist. Mollenkramer, who became teary-eyed at Thursday’s presentation, pitched in as did staff from the nonprofit’s shipping and online business services.

“It’s really amazing,” Harkins said. “I was really happy with the end result. Looking at it, I was like ‘Wow! It’s a glorious build.’ It makes you feel really proud about yourself.”

Gano was equally pleased.

“I was surprised how big it was after we actually finished,” he said. “It makes Christmas better for me. It puts you into the Christmas spirit. You’ve worked hard and you’re giving it away to someone that is in a dark place.”

Community support

For Bassett, Thursday’s surprise was a dream come true. But, even more meaningful than getting the new Millennium Falcon — Lego’s ultimate set — was the outpouring of support from the school community, from San Clemente and from Lego enthusiasts far away, she said.

“The real story is not the vandalism but how our community has come together,” Bassett said.

One of Bassett’s students, Rafe Nelson, 8, provided some sage advice. “We better secure the windows in the library, so no one can break in.

“I feel so happy for her,” he said, adding that his uncle Rian Johnson, directed the last two “Star Wars” movie (“Star Wars: Episode VII — The Last Jedi”). “I was sad when all of her Legos got destroyed. This one came with more than 7,500 pieces. Now, she’s happy. She does really good art and makes the room look pretty and she’s really positive. If she has a husband, he should take really good care of her.”

Student Lennox Quigley, though, was still bothered by the destruction in the library.

“Some of the pieces were totally broken and smashed,” the eight-year-old said. “Why would someone do that? They don’t know how hard it is to build this.”