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Volunteers are needed for a winter coat giveaway on Friday in Lawrence.

The annual event, which provides free coats to those in need, is sponsored by The Salvation Army and Scotch Fabric Services.

This year’s coat distribution will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at the north entrance of The Salvation Army, 1202 E. 23rd St.

To volunteer, contact Emma Perez at Emma.Perez@usc.salvationarmy.org to sign up, or call (785) 843-4188.

This will be the 39th year that Scotch has collected and cleaned coats for the event.

“We are so thankful to have Scotch’s annual help with this,” said Major Karen Holness, co-director for The Salvation Army in Lawrence and Douglas County. “People are struggling right now, and these much-needed coats provide hope and make a big difference.”

Last year, more than 700 coats were cleaned and distributed through the coat drive, according to a news release from The Salvation Army. Over the past 38 years, the drive has totaled more than 86,000 coats.