By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Families, individuals, clubs, organizations and corporations have responded to the theft of gifts from the Women's Crisis Center by buying new items - three times as much as were stolen.

"We have had a great response," said Joyce McNeely, WCC's development director.

She said she had left gifts donated for the center in her car while attending a WCC board meeting at the center, 835 Madison Ave., Covington, in late November. Someone broke in and stole them.

No arrests have been made.

After media reports of the theft, Ms. McNeely said, replacement gifts and donations started streaming in. Some came from as far away as Maryland.

"One family decided not to buy gifts for each other, but instead bought gifts for the center," Ms. McNeely said.

Space at the center has been converted to storage, and volunteers have set up a holiday house. Women at the center can select gifts for their children and the children can select gifts for their parents, Ms. McNeely said.

Sharon Parsley, a law student at Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, said her family decided that instead of buying gifts for one another, they would donate to the center.

"We just went shopping using the wish list from the center," Ms. Parsley said.

The family included her husband, Randy Alvis, of Cold Spring; her parents, Dallas and Nancy Parsley, Mount Washington; and sister Pam Parsley of Eastgate.

Mike and Genny Meyer of West Sixth Street, Covington, pulled together a group of 25 friends and threw a party to collect money and gifts.

"We gave the party last Tuesday," she said. "People brought in lots of gifts, household items and money."

Mary Jo Davis, executive director, said wrapping paper has been donated, too.

"All I can say is that this has been overwhelmingly beautiful," Ms. Davis said. "When the word got out what happened, the entire community responded."

E-mail ahoward@enquirer.com