More than 2,000 people will be warmer this winter thanks to the Share the Warmth coat drive sponsored by The Salvation Army of Douglas County and Scotch Fabric Care Services.

The Salvation Army this year has collected more than 2,800 items — coats, hats, mittens and blankets — for people in need, and employees at Scotch Fabric have spent hours giving them a professional cleaning.

“It’s a lot of extra hours for the few of us who stay,” said Thomas Shmalberg, a vice president of Scotch Fabric.

Shmalberg said his grandfather began the practice of cleaning the coats 29 years ago, and this is his sixth year handling the project.

“The good feeling you get from this when people get the coats is unbelievable,” Shmalberg said.

Coats will be available at the I-70 Business Center, 1035 N. Third St., Suite 104, on Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, said Lt. Marisa McCluer of The Salvation Army. The only requirement for a free coat is that you are a Douglas County resident.

There are heavy coats, long coats, light coats, adult and kids coats, baby coats — and in a variety of colors and fabrics, McCluer said.

The number of coats collected this year is up in part because of the help of Hilltop Children’s Center, McCluer said. In addition, the recent cold snap has put people in the mind of winter.

“I think we had a last-minute rally when it got cold outside,” McCluer said. “People thought I need a new coat, and I’ve got to do something with the old one. When it is warm outside people don’t think about it as much.”