Katy, TX – Friends Ice Cream and Coffee is now open to the Katy community! Located on the northeast corner of Kingsland Baptist Church’s property, Friends serves up a tasty variety of coffee and ice cream treats. But what makes Friends truly unique is the warmth and joy brought to every interaction by the employees with special needs known as the Friends Crew. Coupled with an inclusive Friends Community Playground, this is sure to be a Katy family favorite this summer.  

Fred Shafer, the Special Needs Director at Kingsland Baptist Church, shares, “We want Friends Ice Cream and Coffee and the Friends Community Playground to be a place where people of all abilities, backgrounds, and cultures can enjoy community together.” 

Friends has something for everyone. The menu showcases items such as specialty coffees and flavorful smoothies and shakes. But the real star of the menu is the decadent ice cream, created by culinary masterminds Allan and Maisa Velasque—award-winning Brazilian ice cream creators who have recently moved to the Katy area and are excited to share their delicious creations with the Katy community. Friends features flavors including Nutella Crunch and Cheesecake Berry. With these fan favorites plus adventurous flavors like Jalapeño Peach Cream, Friends is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. 

Friends Ice Cream and Coffee strives to create a truly inclusive community space. This purpose is further highlighted in the adjoining Friends Community Playground—a custom-designed playground that is accessible for all children and open to the public. This state-of-the-art playground features play elements specifically designed to enable shared play for kids of all abilities. Surrounding the perimeter of the playground are Friends Community interactive panels that highlight the value and meaning behind all friends playing together. Parents or caregivers with smartphones will enjoy the digitally interactive features of these panels to further explore these play concepts with their kids.

The Friends opening is more than just a celebration of a new business. It is the final piece of a two-year renovation and expansion project for Kingsland Baptist Church’s rapidly growing Special Needs Ministry. This ministry serves children, teens, and adults with a variety of special needs so that the whole family can participate in worship gatherings and other special events.

Fred Shafer, Special Needs Director, shares that, “People with special needs are one of the most underserved people groups in churches today. Only about 10% of churches have a special needs ministry. 60% of adults with special needs are unemployed. Working at Friends Ice Cream and Coffee gives our adult employees with special needs a since of purpose and accomplishment. At Kingsland, our ministry embraces and serves people with special needs and their families with the love of Jesus Christ.”  

Friends Ice Cream and Coffee invites everyone to come and enjoy some delicious ice cream and coffee while supporting this meaningful cause—now open Monday through Saturday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM.