A monthly gathering offering connection and community for LGBTQ+ older adults
Stillwater, MN: This month, Friends & Co (formerly Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly Twin Cities) is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Let’s Do Coffee in Stillwater, a monthly gathering for LGBTQ+ older adults held in partnership with FamilyMeans. What may look like a simple cup of coffee is, for many attendees, something much more meaningful: a place to belong.
In times of uncertainty, spaces for connection matter more than ever. Let’s Do Coffee is designed to foster social connection among LGBTQ+ older adults, offering a warm, inclusive environment where people can come together over free coffee, breakfast snacks, and conversation. The gathering is intentionally low-pressure and welcoming. No agenda, no sign-ups, just the chance to show up and be yourself.
Let’s Do Coffee is open to LGBTQ+ adults ages 62 and older and is free and drop-in. Participants gather on the second Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at FamilyMeans (Desch Room) 1875 Northwestern Avenue S., Stillwater.
While the Stillwater gathering is marking its first year, the roots of the program run much deeper. Friends & Co’s Let’s Do Coffee is part of the larger Let’s Do Lunch Café tradition, which began in 2013 in response to growing awareness around social isolation among LGBTQ+ older adults. What started as a small, community-driven gathering has grown into a long-running series of coffee and lunch meetups across the Twin Cities and surrounding communities. (See history of Let’s Do Lunch Café)
“For many LGBTQ+ older adults, finding affirming social spaces later in life isn’t a given,” said Jethra Kapp, Director of Community Engagement at Friends & Co. “Let’s Do Coffee creates a consistent place where people don’t have to explain themselves. They can just show up and be themselves.”
By expanding Let’s Do Coffee to Washington County, Friends & Co and FamilyMeans are responding to the growing need for affirming social opportunities for LGBTQ+ older adults, who often face heightened risks of loneliness and isolation. The program offers an inclusive, supportive environment where participants can build meaningful connections and strengthen their sense of belonging.
As Friends & Co celebrates this local milestone, the organization also recognizes the broader impact of the program’s more than 12-year history: fostering friendships, reducing isolation, and affirming that LGBTQ+ older adults deserve spaces intentionally designed with them in mind.
Let’s Do Coffee is open to LGBTQ+ older adults ages 62+ and allies. No registration is required.
To learn more about Let’s Do Coffee and other programs offered by Friends & Co, visit friendsco.org/lets-do-events.
