January 2026: E-Newsletter

MHA E-newsletter
Written By MHA Staff
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Organization Updates

Happy New Year!

Thank you for supporting us, attending our events, and keep up to date with us throughout the years and especially in 2025 as we explored new ways to support our community.

This year, we are expanding services to offer mental wellness education to youth and adults across Cleveland County through a variety of programs. Stay tuned to learn about our upcoming opportunities to connect in the future. This includes new volunteer opportunities, new events and ideas for Mental Health Awareness Months, and more! We can't wait to show you what's in store.

The Importance of Breathwork

Stress is one of the most prevalent mental health concerns in the United States. According to the APA, Stress has been on the rise over the last few years. Long-term stress can lead to additional mental health challenges, make daily challenges feel more difficult, impact your physiological response to stress, and even have impacts on your physical health such as wearing on your immune system, heart disease, digestive issues, and more (source).

There are many ways to handle stress (check out this article for a list of ways to handle chronic stress), but we wanted to share one method that, when practiced consistently, can lead to improvements in your mental health: breathwork.

We will be sharing a blog post in the coming weeks to outline the importance of breathwork in a bit more detail. For now, we wanted to provide some quick resources on how to use and practice breathwork in your daily life.

Breathwork is any intentional and controlled breathing practice where an individual uses a technique to assist in regulating the nervous system. By this definition, there are many techniques a person can use to practice breathwork. There is not one single technique that is more effective than others. Instead, according to this NIH publication, breathwork is more effective if it follows this criteria: "avoiding fast-only and [shorter than] 5 min practices; and incorporating human-guided training during initial sessions, multiple sessions, and long-term practice."

To make breathwork a more comfortable and effective experience, try (source):

  • Wearing comfortable clothing

  • Positioning the body that opens up the respiratory system such as standing, sitting with the torso upright, or lying down on your back (choose whatever is comfortable and/or accessible)

  • Start with an inhale (preferably through the nose but through the mouth also works if that is more comfortable) that you draw deep into your belly, first allowing your abdomen expand followed by the natural inflation of your lungs and chest

  • Focus on slow and even breaths

  • Stop if you begin feeling faint or dizzy

Here are some breathwork techniques you can use:

Upcoming Events Hosted by MHA

This list contains all events that are led by or in collaboration with the Mental Health Association of Cleveland County. You can also find these listed on our calendar.

Happening Locally

Here are some things you can do locally to help get you connected to activities that can support your mental health. All activities are free (F) or low-cost (LC). If you know of any things to do in Cleveland County and think we should include it in our monthly newsletter, send an to egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org.

Events in Shelby

Broad River Market -

  • Every Monday, 4:30 pm - until out of food at Jefferson Park (801 Jefferson St.)

  • Select Wednesdays (check their socials), 4:30 pm - until out at Grover Town Hall (207 Mulberry Road)

  • 100% FREE food - fresh produce and groceries

  • Follow on Facebook and Instagram

Cleveland County Mutual Aid Pop Ups

  • Next Pop Up: February 5

  • Recurring once a month, announced via Facebook and Instagram

  • 100% FREE items - toiletries, books, clothes, OTC medications, etc.

  • Facebook group open to helping people connect with resources and help

Cleveland County Libraries (various locations) (F)

  • Thread Lightly (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Tuesday, February 3, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

  • Teen Tuesday (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Tuesday, February 3, 10, and 24, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Makers Meetup - Beaded Rngs & Keychains (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Thursday, February 5, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Monday Night Book Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Monday, February 9, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

    • Zoom option available

  • Crafternoon for grades K - 5 (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • February 11, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  • Intro to 3D Printing

    • Thursday, February 12, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Learn and Grow Garden Group (Spangler Branch)

    • Saturday, February 14, 10:00 - 11:00 am

  • Manga Club (Teen) (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Tuesday, February 17, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Chess Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Monday, February 23, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

There are more activities and Bookmobile locations not listed here. To see more, visit the CCLS calendar here.

Neal Senior Center (100 TR Harris Dr. Shelby, NC). The Neal Senior Center releases a calendar of activities each month. Visit their website for the most up to date events.

Farmers Markets

The Foothills Farmers Market (multiple locations). The Foothills Farmers Market has multiple locations (in Shelby & Kings Mountain). There is no cost to get into the market, however, the items at the market are sold by individual vendors.

Expanding Your Toolkit: Support Groups and Trainings

Trainings by Partners

At the time of writing this newsletter, Partners has changed the way they schedule trainings. To see a full list of available trainings, click here. For more information or interest in scheduling a training, please contact: CETraining@PartnersBHM.org.

 

Support Groups

MHA’s Depression and Anxiety Support Group

  • Every Thursday, 6:30 - 7:30 PM

  • 205 S Washington St. (Upstairs Conference Room), Shelby, NC - please note: building does not have an elevator.

Gaston, Lincoln, and Cleveland Brain Injury Support Group

  • Third Tuesday of each month, 6-7 pm

  • ComServe, 1541 Delta Drive, Gastonia, NC 28052;

  • Contact: Patricia Haithcox at phaithcox@comserve.org, 704-736-5307 or Shanda Daniels at 704-772-4291

Divorce Care Group

Starting Thursday, January 15 and meeting every Thursday through April 9, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Meetings will take place at Calvary Baptist Church (320 Old Boiling Springs Rd, Shelby, NC 28152).

Meetings are free, in person, and have child care available on site. To learn more click here.

NAMI Family Support Group

  • Online: Reoccurring biweekly, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.

  • Access here.

Hickory Brain Injury Support Group

Postpartum Support International Support Groups

  • PSI offers 50+ FREE and virtual support groups for perinatal parents. Click here to begin your search.

EmotionsAnonymous

  • 12-step style program for emotional health struggles

  • Visit site to find virtual meetings



Know of an existing support group or want assistance starting one? Contact us by emailing egrimsey@clevelandcountymha.org to get added to this list or develop one.

Cleveland County Community Food Resources

If you need food assistance, dial 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org for free, 24/7 help in locating food pantries, meal programs, and essential services in your area. Assistance is available in multiple languages. Find the PDF Resource Guide here: bit.ly/november-snap-benefits-pause

Boiling Springs

  • Boiling Springs Baptist Church, 307 South Main St. – Food Pantry

  • Calvary Baptist Church, 320 Old Boiling Springs Rd. – Food Pantry

Cherryville

  • Washington Outreach Ministry, 2007 Capernium Rd. – Food Pantry

Fallston

  • Fallston Baptist Church, 109 Circle Dr. – Food Pantry

  • Friendship Methodist Church, 111 Friendship Dr. – Food Pantry/Blessing Box

Kings Mountain

  • Central United Methodist Church, 113 South Piedmont Ave. – Food Pantry

  • H. Lawrence Patrick Senior Center, 909 East Kings St. – Pantry/Hot Meals, must be 55+ to join.

  • Kings Mountain Crisis Ministry, 208 North Cleveland Ave. – Food Pantry

  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 220 North Watterson St. – Food Pantry

Kingstown

  • Paul & Marion Ramseur Foundation – Farm Grown Food/Emergency Food

Lawndale

  • First Baptist Church Lawndale, 129 Douglas St. – Food Pantry

  • U-Can, 230 East Main St. – Food Pantry/Second Harvest Food Site

Shelby

  • Broad River Community Market – Fresh Produce

  • Central United Methodist Church, 200 East Marion St. – Hot Meals

  • Changers Church, 341 Hudson St. – Food Pantry

  • Common Ground Café Seniors – SMILE Meal Program (60+)

  • Council on Aging Neal Senior Center – Meals on Wheels

  • Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 502 West Sumter St. – Food Pantry

  • Feeding Kids Cleveland County – Food Pantry/Backpack Program

  • Flint Hill Baptist Church, 2207 Flint Hill Church Road – Food Pantry

  • First Baptist Church, 120 North Lafayette St. – Hot Meals

  • Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association 1175 Wyke Rd. – Food Pantry

  • Hopper’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 415 West Graham St. – Food Pantry

  • Mount Calvary Baptist Church Community Life Center, 422 Carolina Ave. – Food Pantry/Second Harvest Food Site

  • Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, 198 Pleasant Ridge Church Rd. – Food Pantry

  • Salvation Army, 305 North Lafayette St. – Emergency Food Pantry

  • Shelby Presbyterian Church, 226 East Graham St. – To-Go Lunches/Pantry/Community Fridge

  • Walls Memorial Baptist Church, 2223 Elizabeth Ave. – Food Pantry

  • Zoar Baptist Church, 1740 South Lafayette St. – Food Pantry

MHA Staff

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