Long Islanders turn to online social groups for moms, crafters and athletes to find friendship

Finding friends as an adult can be difficult as you enter different stages in life. But across Long Island, social clubs are creating new opportunities for people to connect. Through social media, these groups are bringing together people with shared interests and creating spaces for friendships to grow beyond the screen.

The Social Mom Club LI, founded by Andrea McCabe, 37, of West Islip, turned an online community into real-life connections. What began as an invitation to join a walk had grown into a social group of more than 2,000 followers on Instagram that also hosts events across Long Island.

As a mother of three, McCabe said she once struggled to find the balance between motherhood and her social life.

"I didn't feel like I had time for friendships," she said. "I always put my kids first."

Starting the club, she said, helped her discover that she could have both.

After giving birth to her daughter, Ellesmera, nearly a year ago, Ruth Heyman, 28, of West Islip, said that everything changed for her.

"It definitely felt like I was hitting some kind of postpartum depression," she said. "You know, just feeling, like, a little lost. Nobody could really help me because nobody was in the same life stage as I was."

When she found The Social Mom Club LI on social media, she was able to meet people, form connections and develop a social life for herself alongside her daughter.

"I immediately felt like I had people, and that was cool," she said. "And now it's even better."

McCabe works with three ambassadors based in East Rockaway, Stony Brook and West Babylon, expanding the club’s reach across Long Island. Members can join the group’s GroupMe, a social platform, to find information about their upcoming walks and other events, which include yoga classes, playdates, coffee trips and wine tastings. Social Mom Club LI meetups are free, but there's a $9.99 per month VIP package option available for moms who want access to special discounts and deals with partnering businesses. Members are not required to purchase a VIP package. 

Crafty clubs

While The Social Mom Club LI brings people together through motherhood, other groups are building community around different interests.

Grace Van Pelt, 22, of Bayport, wanted a place to create and share art after graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor of science in visual arts in December 2024. Feeling there were not enough spaces for artists to gather on Long Island, she decided to create one herself.

Last fall, Van Pelt founded Craft Club LI to give people a place to work on creative projects and connect with others without the pressure of spending money.

"It was really my own interest in wanting to be a part of a community space, and just the lack of those spaces on the island," she said. "I feel like I've noticed recently that a lot of people are doing these sort of community things for monetary gain, or they're trying to make it into a side hustle, and it's really pricing out the communities that need it the most."

Prioritizing low cost, Van Pelt holds gatherings at Bayport-Blue Point Public Library and asks attendees to bring their own art supplies or unfinished projects. The Craft Club is free, but participants pay for their supplies or bring them from home. 

"Everything is money," she said. "And I like that my space is removing that entirely and creating a space for people to flourish and to do their artwork in a way that doesn't cost them."

Balancing a full-time job as an office manager while running the club on her own, Van Pelt took a hiatus from hosting events.

"I feel like it's really hard, especially for people, mid-20s, to go out in the world and spend that time and make connections with people, because we're also focused on working and cost of living on Long Island," Van Pelt said.

Now, Craft Club LI has returned, and Van Pelt plans to hold events every two weeks.

Athletic connection

After a breakup and moving back to Long Island, Deanna Bertini, 33, of Copiague, decided to spend her nights joining a volleyball team through LI Kick, an adult recreation sport company. There, she met her current partner, formed lasting friendships and eventually became employed part-time.

In August 2025, she co-founded LI Social League with Sal Farruggia, the owner of the "sporty cousin," LI Kick.

"We felt like there might be a market for something else that we could offer these people who want the same benefits of being at LI Kick without actually having to play a sport," said Bertini. "And so that's when we created LI Social League."

With the help of three coordinators, they hold two to three events a month for people in their late 20s to mid 30s at partner bars across Long Island. Funded by their event ticket sales, LI Social League hosts activities ranging from their popular beer pong tournaments to bar crawls, singles events and game nights. Prices vary per event.

"My original vision was really to just cultivate a community where people feel like they can come in and be themselves, meet new people, open themselves up to new experiences and activities, and leave with a friend," she said.