From scrap metal and aluminum cans came a gesture of gratitude for local health care workers.
Hunter-Michael Hutchins had seen how important doctors, nurses and others working in hospitals were in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus crisis. He knew they were putting in extraordinary effort to help people and make them well. Even as a third-grader, he understood how the pandemic could take a toll on them.
The southside Indianapolis resident wanted to say "thank you," someway.
"With everything going on with COVID-19, I wanted to help with that, help the staff because they do a lot of things to help and people don’t always realize it," he said.
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Hunter-Michael used his own resourcefulness, as well as money raised from his own business, to donate more than $2,100 to Franciscan Health Indianapolis. Using money he raised through his own metal-recycling business, as well as donations from family and friends and his birthday money, the funds will go toward buying treats such as frozen yogurt and soft pretzels for the hospital staff.
Being able to show such a small token of appreciation makes him feel good.
"It’s something to help them keep going. It lets them know people are thinking of them," Hunter-Michael said.
Hunter’s Can Business is thriving. The Hutchins’ garage is filled with collected scrap, old electronics, unwanted machinery and tools, and stacks of other metal items. A plastic bag is filled with pull-tabs from aluminum cans.
People who know him call him when they have old metal items to recycle. Hunter-Michael and his father, John-Michael Hutchins, canvas their neighborhood and other areas around their home, searching for old metal items they can salvage. They drive around in an old Ram 1500 pickup truck, a vehicle Hunter-Michael recently paid off the loan on.
When they’ve collected enough of a load, they take everything to nearby OmniSource, which pays them for the scraps. The proceeds from the business help pay for gas, license plates, insurance and other costs associated with the business.
"It’s a self-sustaining business," John-Michael Hutchins said.
Hunter-Michael started the business in 2017, when Hunter-Michael was just 6 years old. As his family gathered for Thanksgiving, his father asked if he’d like to help collect cans and recycle them for some extra money.
"It was just a regular day and my dad asked me if I wanted to start taking cans in for money," he said. "I said sure. And we just kept doing it."
As Hunter-Michael collected more and more cans, the business grew. Soon, it expanded to include scrap metal and other junk that they were able to salvage. Friends and family would provide him with recyclable materials they no longer needed. Local businesses have set up bins for recyclables that Hunter-Michael picks up on a regular basis.
John-Michael Hutchins works as an environmental and sustainability consultant, so he knew the avenues to take to ensure the unused items did not end up in a landfill somewhere.
"When we take things apart, we don’t just throw away all the parts," Hunter-Michael said.
Over the past three years, Hunter’s Can Business has turned over more than 15 tons of metal.
"All of that could be in the landfill," he said.
When he’s not busy with his business, Hunter-Michael plays soccer for the St. Francis Soccer League Travel Academy, a recreation club sponsored by Franciscan Health. That, and the fact that his grandmother works for Franciscan Health in Michigan City, is what motivated him to want to help doctors, nurses and others in health care.
The idea to use the money he’d raised actually started bubbling around Christmas 2019, and got stronger throughout the coronavirus pandemic. With his birthday approaching on May 3, he presented his idea to his father and mother, Kelly Hutchins. He wanted to use money they otherwise would have used for his birthday gifts and party to go toward the thank-you project.
"I have a lot of things, and I wanted to donate instead of getting more toys or things like that," Hunter-Michael said.
The money from his birthday, plus proceeds from his business, totaled about $220. But Hunter-Michael saw even more potential to raise funds for a thank-you gift.
His parents helped him make a video outlining his plan and how people could help, and posted it on YouTube. The link to the video went out to friends, family, soccer teammates, local businesses and clients of Hunter’s Can Business.
The response was overwhelming.
As of Friday, he had collected more than $2,100.
"There are still people saying that they want to give money, so there’s more possibly coming. If people want to donate, it can be an ongoing thing," John-Michael Hutchins said.
Hunter-Michael and his parents reached out to Joann Henry, manager of health and fitness at Franciscan Health. For Henry, it was an incredible demonstration of selflessness during what has been a difficult time.
"I loved it. All of the negative things around COVID-19 are awful. But it’s so rewarding to see the positive things that have come out of it. To see a 9-year-old be giving is amazing," she said.
Together, they worked out the best way to use the money that had been raised. Henry asked Hunter-Michael what treats he liked, and he settled on frozen yogurt and soft pretzels.
Using the donation, Henry would buy treats for the staff. Because people worked different shifts and in different parts of the hospital, the frozen yogurt and soft pretzels would be presented multiple times, accompanied by a poster that Hunter-Michael made to express his thanks.
The Hutchinses presented a check for $2,176.71 to Franciscan Health officials on Friday.
"It feels good," he said. "It feels good helping others."
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Hunter’s Can Business continues to accept donations to show thanks for health care workers. Anyone who would like to help can contribute in the following ways:
PayPal or Venmo at [email protected] or 219-406-8043
Contributions can also be mailed. Contact John-Michael Hutchins at [email protected] for more information.
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