Maitland Hunter Valley Shimmy Mob has raised $2700 in the past month for the refuge, which will help provide vulnerable women and children with much needed resources.

“Our funding is so tight despite the community’s continued generosity,” Carrie’s Place CEO Jan McDonald said.

“We’ll use this money to buy much needed resources.”

In recent times community donations have helped print booklets on healthy, safe relationships.

Ms McDonald said these booklets have helped thousands of women in the past year.

“It’s with the help of people like the Shimmy Mob that we can do this,” she said.

“Carrie’s Place continues to say thank you to the community because we continue to receive these wonderful donations.”

The charitable women shimmied raised about half the $2700 on World Belly Dancing Day on May 9.

Their efforts also brought awareness to domestic violence in flash mob demonstrations at Kurri Kurri markets, Maitland Station, up and down Swan Street at Morpeth and at the East Maitland cafe Organic Feast.

The balance of the donation was raised through the Shimmy Mob and Hunter Shimmy Sisters’ Arabian Nights-themed event.

“Carrie’s Place is such a worthy charity,” Shimmy Mob team leader Lucinda Waters said.

“We are women in the same community so we like to support Carrie’s Place.”

Women who are interested in belly dance are encouraged to contact the Hunter Shimmy Sisters for lessons regardless of prior experience or ability. Contact Mikola Lee on 0401 902 898.