Students and staff at Hillcrest School rode an emotional roller coaster this week, from the lows of anger and sadness to the highs of determination and happiness.

In a weekend theft, someone took about $1,000 from the school, 1045 Hilltop Drive. It was money that had been raised by students to help the Lawrence Humane Society and the family of classmates who had lost their home in a fire.

Donations poured in Tuesday, as the Lawrence community and even people in the Kansas City area responded to news of the theft.

“The phones started ringing about 9 o’clock. It’s been an overwhelming response,” Principal Tammy Becker said.

By the time school ended Tuesday, about $2,000 had been donated to the school to give to the family of Onechanh Rattanavongsy, a single mother of three Hillcrest students whose Habitat for Humanity house burned last month. Another $500 had been donated for the Humane Society.

“Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the loss,” Becker said. “What we really need to do is focus on the good people out there.”

Bill Goodson, general sales manager at Laird Noller Ford-Lincoln, 935 W. 23rd St., called KLWN radio Tuesday morning after hearing a news item about the theft. He made a donation on behalf of the business, said Gary Bennett, Laird Noller general manager.

• 6News video: Community rallies following theft at school

“We’d agreed to donate $500 and challenge anybody else in town or other car dealers to put up for the money that was lost,” Bennett said.

The school’s parent-teacher organization also is contributing money, and third-graders have planned a bake sale, Becker said.

Hillcrest and its students have a history of giving to individuals and organizations, including last year’s victims of hurricanes and the Asian tsunami, Becker said. That will continue, she said.

“Sometimes when this sort of thing happens, it puts a damper on that and doing the good,” Becker said. “Today what it has done is make me realize we have to keep doing good and be like the many people who came forward today.”