It Started With a Stranger

Love, A Stranger is more than a helpline—it’s a heart-to-heart lifeline for anyone impacted by an eating disorder.

Founded by a recovered eating disorder survivor who knows firsthand the isolating, all-consuming nature of the illness, Love, A Stranger was created with one simple truth in mind: no one should have to navigate this alone.

During the founder’s darkest moments, what was missing wasn’t just treatment or diagnosis—it was human connection. Not a clinical voice on the other end of a hotline, but someone who got it. Someone who could hold space. Someone who would remind them they weren’t broken or alone. That seed of need turned into a mission—and eventually, into Love, A Stranger.

We are a helpline, not a crisis hotline. That means we’re not staffed by licensed clinicians or medical personnel, and we don’t offer emergency or crisis intervention. Instead, we offer something just as critical: real-time emotional support, resource guidance, and peer-to-peer connection. You can text or call us during our open hours, and a trained volunteer—someone who understands eating disorders from lived or learned experience—will be there to talk, listen, and walk with you.

Whether you’re someone struggling, a loved one seeking guidance, or a parent just trying to understand, we’re here to support you. Our services include:

  • Text and call-based support from trained volunteers

  • Connections to treatment resources in your area or online

  • A pen pal matching system for ongoing peer connection

  • Support for families and loved ones navigating this journey too

At Love, A Stranger, we believe healing happens in connection. That even a stranger’s love—freely given, with no strings attached—can remind someone of their worth, their strength, and their right to recover.

Sometimes, the person who helps you find your way back to yourself isn’t someone you know—just someone who cares enough to show up.

Let’s Walk

This Together

Have a question? Looking for support? Want to get involved?


Send us a message or connect by phone or text. However you show up, we’ll meet you there.