McHENRY – Having removed his purple balloon hat, 8-year-old Tommy Cullen’s sandy-haired head bobbed vigorously up and down when asked whether he’d been good this year.

Tommy was strolling north Sunday on Court Street with his mother, Megan Quayle, on their way to Veterans Memorial Park in McHenry. Quayle carried a still-in-the-box Lalaloopsy doll to donate to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive, and Tommy looked forward to a visit with Santa.

“I want to have [Tommy] learn about giving to children who don’t have toys,” the McHenry woman said of her gift. “And my stepdad was riding a motorcycle in the Toys for Tots parade.”