Community Network

LCC’s Community Network allows members to connect and engage with others through virtual events, communication channels, groups, and mentor programs. Long COVID is, by its very nature, isolating. Our programs are designed to foster avenues for sustainable connection with people who know what it’s like and remind you, you are not alone.

Support Groups & Events

Fridays 12:00- 1:00pm Central Time

Zoom

Weekly Support Group

Our free, all-inclusive virtual weekly support group aims to unite the Long COVID community across the country to share stories, get advice, and find solace in our shared journeys. This recurring zoom event offers the space for open discussions and community bonding as we share, listen, and learn from each other. Open to all - member and nonmember.

Held in partnership with the ATX Long Haulers Facebook Group.

Zoom Link

More events coming soon - stay tuned!

Join LCC on the first Wednesday of every month for our recurring happy hour event! Whether you’re a longtime member or just curious, this is your moment to connect, laugh, and meet the people behind the posts. No pressure, no awkward intros—just a laid-back and upbeat space for long haulers, allies, and supporters to enjoy each other’s company.

Next event Wednesday, November 19th

First Wednesday of the month

6:00- 7:00pm Central Time

Zoom

Monthly LCC Happy Hour

Zoom Link

LCC Pen Pals

LCC Pen Pals is a simple, low-pressure way for people living with chronic illness to connect with each other through mail. Participants are matched one-to-one and write at their own pace, in whatever way feels manageable. That might be a short note, a postcard, or a longer letter. There are no deadlines and no expectations about how often or how much you write. The goal is connection that feels steady and human. Exchanging mail creates a slower pace and clearer boundaries than digital communication, and this program is designed to fit into real lives and real energy levels, not add another thing to manage.

This is not a commitment, a therapy program, or a support group with obligations. You do not owe anyone a letter on a schedule. One letter can be enough. Taking a break is okay. Stopping entirely is okay. This also isn’t about fixing anyone or centering illness unless you want to talk about it. You decide what you share and how much. If at any point the exchange stops feeling good, you can pause or step away without explanation.

Sign up

Pen Pals FAQ

If you’re wondering what to write:

If the idea of a blank page feels intimidating, you’re not alone. Many people feel unsure how to start. There’s no right way to do this, and there’s no expectation to write a certain amount or in a certain style.

Some people don’t want to focus on illness at all. Others let it come up naturally. Both are completely okay. One letter can be enough. It’s also okay if an exchange goes quiet. This program is designed to allow for that.

If you want to participate but feel stuck on how to begin, you’re welcome to reach out to the coordinator for help getting started.

  • Yes. LCC Pen Pals is a member program. If you’re not already a member, you’re welcome to join. Membership has no duties, no required participation, and no expectations.

  • No. This program is open to people living with any chronic illness.

  • Yes. LCC Pen Pals includes members living outside the U.S., including the UK. Most matches are made within the same country to keep postage simple. International matches are possible when both participants are comfortable with international mail and postage.

  • There is no set schedule. Some people write once a month. Some write less often. Some exchange one letter and that’s it. All of these are completely fine.

  • Anything you want. Daily life, small observations, books or shows, memories, or nothing heavy at all. Talking about illness is optional.

  • Pen pal exchanges sometimes end or go quiet. We expect this to happen, and it isn’t a reflection of anyone involved. If you’d like to stop or change matches, you can contact the coordinator and they’ll handle it quietly. You don’t need to explain anything to your pen pal. If a match ends, you’ll be given the option to be rematched or to pause.

  • For now, participants are matched with one pen pal at a time. This helps keep the program manageable and makes sure everyone who wants a match can get one. As the program grows, additional options may be offered.

  • This is a mail-based pen pal program. Letters do not need to be handwritten, but exchanges happen through physical mail rather than email.

  • Your mailing address is shared only with your matched pen pal. Using first names only is completely fine. You’re not required to include a return address on your mail. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you can pause or stop participating.

  • That’s expected. You can slow down, pause, or stop at any time. This program is designed around real bodies and real limits.

LCC Pen Pals is run through the Long Covid Collective and is open to LCC members. If you’re not already a member, you’re welcome to join. Membership has no duties, no required participation, and no expectations beyond being part of the community. LCC Pen Pals welcomes members living both inside and outside the United States.

Virtual Connection Platforms

Our social media accounts aim to provide a safe space for our Long COVID and chronic illness community to connect, support, and share our experiences with one another. Follow along to stay up-to-date with LCC updates, events, and information!

View fullsize This is how a lot of people decide someone must be fine. They’re not trying to be cruel. They just don’t see the whole picture. People with chronic illnesses don’t fake being sick. They fake being well. #Longcovidcommunity #chron
View fullsize Sometimes the most supportive thing you can do is resist the urge to fix. #Longcovidcommunity #chronicillnesscommunity #spoonielife
View fullsize This is not a rom-com, and there is no dramatic turning point. These are the small, everyday moments that quietly erode relationships when chronic illness is part of the picture. There are no big fights or obvious villains, just a series of subtle m
View fullsize “How are you?” seems a harmless thing to ask. But for a Chron, it means stopping a very careful internal balancing act to run a full systems check in real time, decide if honesty is safe with this person, and pick an answer that won&rsqu
View fullsize We came across a video describing certain environments where people consistently report feeling calmer, clearer, and more regulated. The explanation was not about mindset or effort, but about what the body has to process in different settings. Acros
View fullsize We did our first pen pal matchups. How exciting it will be to receive mail that isn’t a bill! If you signed up and didn’t receive an email, please contact us at penpal@longcovidcollective.org. If you want to sign up for a pen pal, the
View fullsize There’s lot happening behind the scenes with an invisible illness. #Longcovidcommunity #chronicillnesscommunity #spoonielife
View fullsize Strategic decisions were made. #Longcovidcommunity #chronicillnesscommunity #spoonielife
View fullsize “Just push through” isn’t encouragement. It’s a misunderstanding of how illness works. Long COVID is not a motivation problem. It’s a medical one. If pushing through worked, people wouldn’t be getting worse from
View fullsize We’re really excited to share this. We’re launching a low-pressure, mail-based pen pal program for people living with chronic illness. There are no deadlines and no expectations. A postcard counts. One letter can be enough. Letters don
View fullsize Two a day feels like a win for me! #Longcovidcommunity #chronicillnesscommunity #spoonielife #chronicillnesshumor
View fullsize Getting a disease usually comes with one job. Take care of yourself. Getting Long COVID often comes with other jobs you didn’t apply for. Understand the condition. Track symptoms. Explain what’s happening. Translate research. Know the c