There are only empty hangers in the Warm Coat Closet at Mission Outreach.

With temperatures dropping, that means many children and adults will be without coats this winter.

Bob Branch, who started the Warm Coat Closet 15 years ago, said there were plenty of coats left over two years ago, so no coat drive was needed last year.

But every coat or jacket has been given out, and it's time for the community to respond as they always do, he added.

The coat closet idea came about when a discipleship Bible study group at First United Methodist Church challenged Bible students to develop a personal ministry in the community.

Branch began to notice, he said, "Early in the mornings as I would go work, kids would be standing out on the corner waiting on the school bus," often wearing no coat or jacket, hands in pockets and shivering.

"I decided that some of them probably didn't have a coat or jacket, and it would be nice if we could furnish them one," Branch explained. "So I came up with the idea of developing the warm coat program."

For many years, many of the city's dry cleaners would take the donated coats and clean them before distribution. But cleaning 500-600 coats a season was extremely costly to their businesses and they had to stop, he explained.

Now, the coats are dropped off directly to the distribution center at Mission Outreach.

"We hope that people will bring them in a clean, serviceable condition," Branch said.

The greatest need every year, he said, is for children's coats and plus-size women's coats. Rain coats and jackets are also needed.

Once the coats are dropped off, they are organized by gender and size. "And they (Mission Outreach) maintain a good control program ...." he said, adding a form must be filled out in order to receive assistance.

Branch didn't have any idea the coat closet would work.

"It has pleased me that it has been so successful," he said. "And that we’ve met a need that was so great."

Since its conception, Branch said more than 6,000 coats and jackets have been distributed.

Anyone wanting to donate should take coats to the mission on East Lake Street. Donations will be accepted through December.