This winter, Nancy Salus is passing out fliers, asking her Severna Park neighbors to donate clean and gently used towels and blankets for a kind of shelter that sometimes gets overlooked.

Her donations help provide nesting material for the 4,500 homeless animals that pass through the doors of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Anne Arundel County each year.

"Animals give us so much," said Salus, who adopted two dogs from the SPCA in October. "We get back so much more than they ask. They only want to be with us and want to love us."

Salus, who collected about 3,000 pieces last year, will gather donations through next month. The blankets and towels are "something that ... the animals can snuggle into and [they can] give them a feeling of protection," she said.

Donated towels and blankets should be clean and in good condition, without frays or tears. Blankets with stuffing cannot be used.

Drop boxes for blankets and towels are at the Severna Park Veterinary Hospital, Severna Park Middle School on Jumpers Hole Road and at 138 Drexel Drive. Salus can be reached at 410-518-6161.