Friday, February 8, 2019

30 Stories 30 Faces 30 Years: Lindsay Condefer and Lentil




"In my experience, CCAKids represents Community, Compassion and Acceptance.   We aren’t a group of strangers, we are a Family. Through Lentil, I was blessed to find my way to CCAKIDS. Animals love based on hearts not our differences on the outside. They create a non-judgmental bridge between humans and the way life should be lived. Our children can relate to animals because they don't stare, they don't ask questions; they just enjoy the hug.  Little by little, all of us that have experienced this beauty will carry it forward to help change our world one day."
Lindsay K. Condefer
Street Tails Animal Rescue
My Name is Lentil
Mount Laurel Animal Hospital
Lindsay Condefer is an amazing woman no doubt. Before she began her "Chews Kind" activities, she was already active in her community and rescuing animals with Street Tails Animal Rescue in Pennsylvania. Then, along came an adorable French bulldog, Lentil, born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Lentil was one in a litter of five pups all born with facial differences. He was the only one to survive.  Lindsay met Lentil in 2013, fell in love, and became his caretaker. The adorable dog and his story - including the intense efforts Lindsay put in to help him thrive - took the media by storm, with thousands of followers joining little Lentil's journey. His viral success offered Lentil and Lindsay a platform. So with the world's attention, they began raising awareness via their blog, My Name is Lentil, and social media nurturing an enormous Facebook and Instagram following with fun photos, uplifting moments, and eventually genuine, authentic connections with families and children across the country. 
One of the most amazing gifts Lindsay has given the craniofacial community is the gift of fundraising. She's raised over $30,000 for CCA Families to attend the Annual Retreat and continues to give back annually. This loyalty and commitment is something we can never repay, but a love for which we are eternally grateful. We selected Lindsay as one of our 30 Stories because she truly changed the trajectory of our organization. By using her visibility to share the spotlight, CCA has been able to grow into new communities and bring along more supporters than we ever could have without them. Lindsay is truly serving to widen the circle of acceptance for our kids. 

Lindsay continues to visit children with facial differences in the Philadelphia area and across the country with organizations like CCA. She has added more "ambassadogs" to her crew, too, with Sprout coming to the CCA Retreat in 2018 (see photo above). When Lindsay is not traveling with Lentil to visit kids, she saves animals as Founder and President of Street Tails Animal Rescue in Philadelphia, PA, and is raising her adorable daughter, Charlie. 




6 comments:

  1. I have followed Lindsay and Lentil's journey on FB since day one (or shortly thereafter). She is such an inspiration. #chewskind

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  2. Lindsay is such an inspiration and a genuinely kind and beautiful person inside and out. The world needs more people with the same hearts as Lindsay !
    <3

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  3. I love all the effort, effect and love that Lindsay brings to all the endeavors in her life. Although I am a grown woman with cleft lip and palate, I actively follow the entire crew. Congratulations, to Lindsay!

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  4. Lindsay is very much a blessing to Lentils followers as well. She's allowed us to chews kind and I absolutely love her, her family, and dogs.
    Thank you for inviting us, Lindsay. You rock!

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  5. It has been so much fun to watch the Bean family grow. Thanks Lindsay for taking the time to share part of your life with #TeamLentil.

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  6. I have been following Lentil and Chews Kind journey everyday since inception. Every day brings awareness, often smiles, and a message of compassion. One person and one tiny dog started to change so many people, one at a time, Now that family has grown in humans and furries and continues to make a difference in awareness, understanding, and appreciation everyday.They are a very bright light in a time where accepting differences is one of our biggest keys to peace. Thank you!

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