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Going Places. Here at Home: Chelsea Hanson

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Chelsea Hanson with children Taylor and Drake and husband Tyler

This is one in a series of articles highlighting the latest generation of innovators making a difference in our communities.

 


Business owner plants seeds to help community fundraisers grow

 

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

 

When asked about her unwavering willingness to give back to the community of Elkader, Chelsea Hanson simply said, “I guess it just runs in the family.”  

 

The 31-year-old, who owns and operates TD’s Sports Bar and Grill in Elkader along with her husband Tyler, has been a Clayton County resident all her life. Even though thoughts of leaving crept in as she grew older, Hanson remained. This is where her family is. It’s where she remembers stories of her grandma letting others who needed a place to stay live with her. It’s where the memories reside of her mom and dad opening their home to others who were in need. It’s where her brother started different causes to raise money for others. 

 

It’s where the seed to give to others and to the community was planted. It’s where she wants to carry that side of the family business on as well. 

 

It’s the only place Hanson can imagine raising a family and owning a business.

 

“I don’t stop to think before I do it. I just know that someone needs it more than me and I would hope that someone will repay the favor if I ever needed it,” she said. “There are plenty of people who are just like me in this world. Many of these fundraisers/benefits we have done would not be so successful if it wasn’t for those who have the will and care to help others in need. I just plant the seed; the community helps make it grow!”

 

That seed is rooted in a work ethic that began in the restaurant and food industry. Hanson was just 14 when she started at the Anchor Inn in Garber. From there, she worked at Keystone, Fitzys and, eventually, for her brother Drew when he opened Drew’s in Elkader. 

 

“I have always had a passion for it and always thought that someday I would take over Drew’s, and just a little over a year ago, I was able to do that and make it TD’s,” she said. 

 

Even the new name originates in the idea of family. The “TD” stands for Taylor and Drake, Chelsea and Tyler’s two children. 

 

This passion, coupled with the seeds of giving imparted by family, have led Hanson to be intensely active in the community. She doesn’t do it for accolades or attention, but because helping people is the right thing to do. 

 

“Being active in the community: Why wouldn’t I be? Being so involved and helping others out is just something I have always done. Why would I stop now? There are so many positives for being involved. It makes me feel good to know I’m doing something for the good and for the town that supports me in so many ways,” she said. 

 

When the community needs someone to give back or provide during hard times, chances are Hanson will be there. She’s full of vigor and zeal, whether it’s a fundraiser or a benefit, a simple food drive for the food shelf with the chance to win a ham or gift card, the giving tree during the holidays for the Elkader Care Center and RISE, or the newly-created Collective Gallery Crawl. 

 

When a house burnt down in the community, Hanson was front and center, accepting donations and promoting the cause. She’s supported the VETS Ride, which gives back to veterans, and helped with the Owen Memorial Ride for her nephew, which includes a silent auction and other activities that paid for most of the family’s medical bills. 

 

In Owen’s honor, Hanson indicated TD’s will do a yearly side-by-side ride, “with the money raised being donated in his name to the hospital for doing their part in keeping Owen with us as long as possible.” 

 

The seeds Hanson has planted have also bore fruit, as the community she has given to so often gives back to her. When COVID-19 shut down her business three months into operation, the people returned her devotion with gratitude. 

 

“The community played a big part in helping me through that challenge and, for that, I say ‘thank you,’” she said. 

 

Of course, there are other obstacles involved with owning a business. There is a learning curve and new challenges, but Hanson meets this with aid from her family, namely Drew. 

 

“My brother has done a great job of helping me through any of these challenges when it comes to this. If I have questions, he helps me through it. Without him, I wouldn’t be in this business,” she said. “Challenges are going to happen no matter what. I just hope to overcome those challenges and grow from them.”

 

Hanson hopes to plant the seed of giving back in others. It’s the seed of living in a community such as Elkader, of supporting all businesses in town, as well as just the town in general. 

 

She’ll do this as a new member of the Elkader Chamber Board, where she can continue to help and improve the community. 

 

“It makes me happy to know that what I do or have done has made some impact on someone, and I just to say ‘thank you’ to all of you who have supported us and continue to support us. We wouldn’t be able to do the things we do without all of you,” she said. 

 

As for the future, Hanson plans to hold more fundraisers and events, and keep pressing forward. A helping hand’s work is never truly finished.

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