Featured Image: The Lily Pad
Nestled in the delightful town of Ridgeland, Mississippi, lies a quaint eatery called The Lily Pad. Though it may look like a typical run-of-the-mill cafe serving up delicious food, this spot is doing a lot more than satisfying bellies. Behind the sandwiches, salads, and deviled eggs is a mission to train young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and equip them with the skills to take the next steps in their lives and obtain employment with other businesses.
At the heart of it all is Kristen Lape, the co-founder and director whose family helped plant the seeds for what would blossom into the bountiful business The Lily Pad is today.
A Ripple in the Water
When Kristin Lape’s daughter, Lily, was unexpectedly diagnosed with Down syndrome, she put the wheels in motion for a non-profit initially called Running for Lily…