Employees from Kemner-Iott brought in items to donate to the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Shelter. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

For the entire month of October, employees at Kemner-Iott were allowed to wear jeans to work once a week.

But there was a catch.

They had to donate three items in exchange for the chance to wear some denim to work. Those items were then donated to the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Shelter in Three Rivers, which services Cass County.

“Our office is an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) office and so for the month of October we celebrate it,” said Kim Parsons, who is the ESOP committee leader for Kemner-Iott in Cassopolis. “Vicki Brossman suggested the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Shelter. We always like to try and find someone who helps us locally.”

For four weeks in October employees were asked to bring in three items. Each week there was a different theme.

Those themes were paper products, non-perishable foods, household cleaning goods and body care products.

“We tied it all together with a sign at the front desk telling everyone why our employees were wearing jeans,” Parsons said.

Kim Kramer, executive director of the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Shelter, was pleased with the donations Kemner-Iott provided.

“We cannot serve our clients without the support of the community and every little bit helps,” she said. “It helps us provide them shelter and all the essentials they need so that they don’t have to spend their money while they are at our facility.”