NILES — Martin’s Super Markets has launched a heart-warming initiative at all of its stores throughout Michiana.

The Share the Warmth program will partner with customers in effort to buy and donate cold-weather clothing for both children and adults.

Each Martin’s store, including the Niles location, will have a display featuring value-priced cold-weather items such as blankets, hats and mittens. Customers may choose one or more of the featured items, pay for them at checkout and then deposit the new items in designated donation bins located near the checkout lanes.

Martin’s began the donation process by making an initial one-time donation of $1,000 to launch the new program. The company hopes to continue to feature this program in subsequent years.

“Share the Warmth is another way we as a company can work with our customers to offer items to neighbors most in need,” said Dave Mayfield, Martin’s director of consumer affairs. “These new cold-weather protection items will go straight from our stores to the community organizations that can identify and distribute these items to those who need them most.”

The program will continue this year throughout the cold winter months.

Martin’s Super Markets was founded in 1947 and currently has 21 stores throughout South Bend, Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart, Goshen, Plymouth, Nappanee, Logansport and Warsaw, Indiana, and in Niles, Stevensville, and St. Joseph, Michigan.

The company also operates 17 in-store pharmacies, a pharmacy in St. Joseph Health System in Mishawaka, a Martin’s Express Convenience Store in South Bend and a Side Door Café at Elkhart General Hospital.