Instead of exchanging gifts amongst each another this Christmas, Suffolk Public Schools employees in the purchasing and finance departments decided to help domestic violence victims by supporting The Genieve Shelter.

The shelter serves families and individuals in Suffolk, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Surry and Southampton who are attempting to escape domestic violence.

Despite the roomful of household supplies, gift cards and gas cards being donated during the holidays, purchasing technician Vanessa Galloway, who sits on the shelter’s board of directors and rallied her school district colleagues to the cause, said folks don’t need to wait for any particular season to help.

“I told my co-workers I was passionate about (helping), so this Christmas, instead of gift exchanges, they have taken it upon themselves to support the shelter,” Galloway said.

Shelter officials James Gregory, Mary Williams-Davis and Javoun Smallwood dropped by the district administration offices Monday to collect the supplies, including diapers, vacuum cleaners, cleaning supplies and lots more.

“These donations help to really bridge the gap on items we don’t have,” said Williams-Davis, the executive director.

“They are the basic living needs — this makes a tremendous difference. We have vacuum cleaners. We have dish detergent.”

Smallwood, Genieve’s president, said people who use the shelter often leave everything behind. “They come in with absolutely nothing,” he said.

Galloway thanked the district’s purchasing manager, Susan Redmon, and finance director Wendy Forsman for helping coordinate the donations.

Folks can lend their support by visiting www.thegenieveshelter.org and clicking on “Donations.”