Scotch Fabric Care Services is accepting coats and blankets to be cleaned and distributed to people in need as winter approaches.

The Lawrence-based company will accept donations for its Share the Warmth program through Nov. 24 at its seven stores in Lawrence and nine in Topeka. The Salvation Army then will distribute the coats Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.

“Just drop it off, and we’ll take care of the cleaning,” said Scott Shmalberg, Scotch president. “The coats stay locally. They’re not shipped out of town or anything.”

Any coats or blankets remaining after the distribution will be turned over to other agencies that provide assistance through clothing banks.

“The need seems to be perpetual,” Shmalberg said. “When we started, we thought, perhaps, that the donations would fall off. But they’ve been very steady through the years. There always seems to be a need.”

The program has collected and distributed more than 143,000 coats since its launch 18 years ago.