2021 Women in Business

Q: What kind of services do you offer to the community through your business? A: We offer an organic line of elderberry products handcrafted in small batches to protect taste and quality of the products. Our products help keep immune systems boosted and families in our community healthy. We are stocked in many locations from Naples to Venice. We have an organic elderberry line that you can shop online too...everything from lemonades, jelly, homemade muffin kits and of course our famous elderberry syrup can be found there with many other items. All our products are 100% organic and raw -- we never use preservatives and pride ourselves on having an FDA approved process. Q: How many years have you been with the business? A: We have been creating and making elderberry syrup for 6 years, but our business was established in 2020. I want to reach as many families and hands that I can because this is a product I truly believe in. So many people didn't know all the health benefits about elderberry so I try to do live videos and have a Q&A for new followers [on social media]. Q: What inspired you to take this business path/ career? A: When making this for my children at a young age, and friends out of a hobby I was amazed with all their testimonies and that inspired me to take this and turn it into a full time business. Also, having myself and husband in the medical field I wanted to create something that I knew worked, that was organic, and safe for our bodies to stay healthy. My husband is a local firefighter/paramedic and creating this elderberry business I always made sure he had a jar of our elderberry syrup to take with him to the fire station. I remember he'd call me and say this person needs a jar, and this guy, and the next thing I knew I had the fire department taking our elderberry! Having our local heroes being so selfless and helping sick and injured people during the pandemic and everyday also pushed me to get this business going. Q: Who has had the biggest influence in your life? A: My children have definitely been my reason and influence on creating this business. I strive to keep them safe, and healthy every day. Q: Do you have a motto or philosophy that guides you everyday? A: No one will care more about your dreams than you do. I think every working mom probably feels the same thing. You go through big chunks of the time where you're thinking "this is impossible" - and then you just keep going and keep going and sort of do the impossible. Owner of The Elderberry Shop Products stocked locally at Los Dos Cristianos Coffee located at: 1120 Plantation Blvd., North Port, Florida 34289 and 320 Sullivan St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950 (239) 770-4665 Website: www.theelderberryshop.shop email: TheElderberryShop.Shop@gmail.com Q & A Chelsea Whetsel turned her hobby of creating all-natural, immunity boosting homemade goods for family and friends into an online store that also stocks their products in many stores all over SWFL. Her dedication for the health and well-being of her husband and children flowed over into caring for the community while it's front-line essential workers deal with being exposed to the pandemic everyday. Chelsea WHETZEL Women In Business September 2021 52

• Cover