We are proud of McHenry County for again stepping up during a local family’s time of grief.

Scott Larimer of Crystal Lake told us this week that, in the days after his son, John, was among 12 killed during the midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater, his family started receiving donations from area residents.

In total, they’ve received about $14,000, much of it coming in $20, $25, or $50 increments. That’s a lot of local people stepping up to support the Larimers. It should be no surprise, as the greater McHenry County community often has answered the call to help when someone is in need.