She’s a 10-year-old business entrepreneur

While other kids her age are enjoying the summer swimming, riding bike or playing on their swingset, 10-year-old Hannah Heidecker is busy at her job as sole proprietor of her own business called “Hannah's Yard Cleanup”.

Business has been slow, but once residents of Minneota find out the reason for her adventure into the business world, her business phone (actually her mother’s cell number) might just light up like an airport runway.

Heidecker is the daughter of a single parent, Jennifer Heidecker. She is mature for her age and a burst of energy; utilizing that enthusiasm into a strong desire to help others. With money admittedly tight at the household, Jennifer is unable to buy Hannah the “things she deserves”.

But Hannah doesn’t mind that she can’t have everything she wants. She understands the situation and would still rather use the money she earns to help others.

When Hannah was three years old, she and her mother were watching a newscast on television about a hurricane in Haiti. During the broadcast, viewers were informed that donations were being accepted to help children in that country.

After explaining to her daughter about the hurricane and how the children in that area lost all their toys, Hannah, despite her youthful age, wanted to send them teddy bears. So she began collecting them over the years.

“I had a closet full of teddy bears,” laughed Jennifer.

Last year, Jennifer heard about a mission trip that some members of Evangelical Free Church in Marshall were planning to take to Ecuador. Hannah decided to send the teddy bears she had been collecting along with church members taking the mission trip.

They contacted the church and got approval. “She saved her allowance and would find nice teddy bears at thrift shops or garage sales,” said her mother. “Or, if they were on sale, she would buy them at Walmart.”

You would think a 10-year-old girl would accumulate a half-dozen or so teddy bears at best. But this eager young lady with a heart of gold doesn’t do things on a small scale. In fact, when she was in kindergarten and selling for a school fundraiser, she topped the sales list by a wide margin, selling $600 for that particular fundraiser.

“Last year she gave the mission group 50 teddy bears to bring to Ecuador,” said her mother. “And there were exactly 50 kids at the place the group went, so each kid got one.”

The group took photos of some of the Ecuador children holding their teddy bears and sent them to Jennifer. “It was cool to see that. I was glad they got them,” said Hannah.

Hannah's teddy bear care package also included an inspiring note for the Ecuadorian children that included, “Remember God loves you”.

This past June, the Evangelical Free Church went on another mission trip to Ecuador. This time, Hannah saved her money and was able to acquire 46 teddy bears throughout the year to send along with the mission group. Now she has a goal even more teddy bears for next year’s mission trip.

“I want to send at least 60,” she said. “And if I collect more than that, I’ll send more.” To try and collect more money for more teddy bears, Hannah started her own yard-cleaning business. She has posted flyers in several businesses in town with tear strips that include the name of her business and her mother's phone number.

“Almost every day she looks at the flyers to see if anyone has torn the strips off,” her mother laughed.

Hannah will pick up sticks, pull weeds, water flowers or gardens, or just any general yard work someone needs done. And her flyer reads: “Reasonable prices”.

Although she still plans to send teddy bears to Ecuador, she has something in mind for herself, too. Hannah collects 18-inch My Life and Journey Girl dolls; less expensive versions of American Girl dolls. She has acquired nearly 20 dolls via gifts, garage sales and thrift stores.

“I want to get a little kitchen for my dolls,” she said, jumping up and down to show her excitement.

“It has a dishwasher and everything. I saw it online and they have it at Toys ‘R Us in Sioux Falls. But I want to get the teddy bears first.” Hannah has always thought of others before herself, though, because of her family background.

“She's been like that as long as I can remember,” said Jennifer. “My parents were the same way. They were always helping someone. And I would bend over backwards to help someone out, too. So, Hannah has always grown up with that attitude.”

Last winter, Hannah shoveled an elderly neighbor’s sidewalk and driveway without asking for anything in return. The woman that was the recipient of Hannah’s kind gesture knitted her a large Christmas stocking in return.

To date, Hannah has six teddy bears saved up already for next year’s mission. It’s likely she will reach her goal and more. After all, this is no little girl just selling lemonade at a stand in front of her house.

This is a young entrepreneur who is squeezing as much love out of her lemons as she can.

If you are interested in hiring Hannah, call 507-476-3731.