EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – A new ice cream shop has opened in Evansville just in time for summer, but it’s not just the fun flavors that set it apart.
At the new Kelsey’s Kones in Camp Reveal, it’s not just the ice cream flavors that will make you glow, but the people behind the counter, too.
Shawna Bittner and her husband own Camp Reveal, and she said it’s always been her dream to open an ice cream shop.
She says there’s a deeper story behind the cones than any other ice cream shop.
“When my husband and I first purchased Camp Reveal, we knew we really wanted to find a way to reach out and support the special needs community,” Shauna says.
Shauna’s niece, Kelsey, has an intellectual disability but is unable to achieve her dream of working in an ice cream shop.
“She really stepped up and did something that I wasn’t sure she could do,” said Amanda Dardeen, Kelsey’s mother.
Kelsey, on the other hand, seems full of confidence.
“We make cones,” Kelsey said.
“There’s pure joy on her face when she’s doing it,” Amanda said.
Kelsey doesn’t have to do it alone either, many other people with special needs work alongside her.
“I think if a lot of kids with disabilities come into this facility it will give them a sense of purpose,” Amanda said.
For Kelsey, having a sense of purpose might mean achieving a simple dream of serving ice cream.
Kelsey’s Kones will be open every day all summer long, offering sweet treats for you to enjoy.
If you know someone with a disability who is interested in working in an ice cream shop, they can find information here.
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