A local child abuse victim is on the hearts and minds of many Press readers who are eager to do something to brighten the 6-year-old boy’s life.

“This makes my heart hurt. How can our community help this boy -- is there somewhere we can donate or send him toys/books/etc?!” wrote Monica Lang, in a comment posted below the story published Thursday on cdapress.com.

There were several similar comments posted on this newspaper’s website — as well as phone calls, email and Facebook messages received by The Press — from others who all want to help this little boy.

KJ Torgerson, CEO of CASA of North Idaho (Court-appointed special advocates), said her agency can accept donations of gift cards or new items for the child.

“They can drop items to the CASA office at 816 Sherman Ave. (Coeur d’Alene) and identify who the gifts are for. Our CASA Advocate will deliver to the foster home. Gift cards are often better than clothing so that the foster parent can fit-size appropriate items,” Torgerson told The Press.

The child should be identified on items dropped off at CASA for him as “the 6-year-old boy whose story was in the Coeur d’Alene Press.”

Torgerson said everyone at the agency will know who the items are for, and she said, “Please, no cash.”

The little boy whose plight is tugging at readers’ hearts lived in Post Falls with his father and stepmother. The couple were arrested last week and are now charged with felony child abuse.

Police in Post Falls were alerted to the situation when the child was admitted to the hospital for surgery for life-threatening injuries, and a health and welfare worker notified authorities.

To read the full story, visit www.cdapress.com/local_news/20171102/couple_charged_with_child_abuse

This child isn’t the only one in Kootenai County struggling as we head into the holiday season.

“We accept donations of new items/gift cards for all of our 400 (roughly) children in foster care and that every child gets a holiday gift,” Torgerson said. “We recently took a group of siblings that did not have any clothing but what they were wearing, and that hadn’t been washed in months.”

Donations can also be made to the CASA Kidz Closet.

All items in the CASA Kidz Closet are made available, at no cost, to CASA Advocates and foster families to ensure no child in the CASA program goes without necessities, Christmas presents, birthday presents or just a reason to smile.

Visit www.northidahocasa.org/kidzcloset.html for a list of needed items.

Donations are always welcome during normal business hours, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CASA of North Idaho, 816 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene.