Birmingham teen honored by Hormel Foods in “10 Under 20 Food Heroes”

Members of Hormel Foods’ “10 Under 20 Food Heroes” (Hormel Foods Corporation)

Earlier this week, Birmingham teen Ethan D. Hill was honored by Fortune 500 global branded food company Hormel Foods Corporation for his work in providing emergency food, drinks, shelter referrals, clothing, sleeping bags, first aid supplies and hygiene products to unhoused people in The Magic City.

Read on to learn more about Ethan and his work through Ethan’s Heart Bags4Blessings.

About Ethan’s Heart Bags4Blessings

Ethan’s Heart Bags4Blessings is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the immediate needs of the homeless community people in Birmingham and the surrounding community. The organization was founded in 2016 by a then-6-year-old Ethan D. Hill, who noticed a homeless gentleman named Mr. Marcus on his way to school.

After researching their needs, Ethan took $100 of his Christmas money to purchase and gift essential survival items to homeless individuals in Birmingham. Each year, Ethan and other volunteers use their own money and donations from the community to create care packages to distribute. Services provided by Ethan’s Heart Bag4Blessings includes:

• Providing food and drink
• Offering referrals to shelters and other services
• Donating clothing, sleeping bags, first aid supplies and hygiene products
• And more!

Visit the Ethan’s Heart Bags4Blessings website to learn more about the program and see how you can get involved.

Honored by Hormel Foods

Earlier this week, Hormel Foods honored Ethan D. Hill as part of the food corporation’s second cohort of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes. Hormel Foods launched the program to celebrate and honor the food-related achievements of young people across the United States.

“We are proud to celebrate the incredibly inspiring people and the transformative work of this year’s class of 10 under 20 Food Heroes. These talented thought leaders are putting their innovative ideas into action to help solve some of the greatest challenges we face in our food system. Their work is making a meaningful impact in their communities and the greater world, and we are honored to know them.”

The 2023 recipients of the 10 Under 20 Food Heroes program are:

• Shrusti Amula, 16 years old, Maryland: Rise N Shine Foundation
• Cavanaugh Bell, 9 years old, Maryland: Cool & Dope
• William Cabaniss, 17 years old, Tennessee: Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow
• Claire Chi, 17 years old, Pennsylvania: Dancing Against Hunger
• Mari Copeny, 15 years old, Michigan: Flint Kids Projects
• Ethan Hill, 13 years old, Alabama: Ethan’s Heart-Bags4Blessings
• Michael Platt, 17 years old, Washington, D.C.:  Michaels Desserts
• Michelle Song, 16 years old, North Carolina: Community for Environmental Sustainability
• Khloe Thompson, 15 years old, Illinois: Khloe Kares Project
• Te’Lario Watkins II, 15 years old, Ohio: Tiger Mushroom Farms 

As part of the recognition, Hormel Foods invited each of the recipients to the company’s global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota. There, the honorees were able to learn from Hormel Foods leaders and discuss opportunities to further scale the impact of their respective projects.

Hormel Foods will be providing each of the honorees with a financial grant to support and continue their individual programs.

Excited to see a Birmingham teen recognized for his philanthropic efforts? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!