INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Where there would normally be a basketball court inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, there were hundreds of boxes full of dried food on Tuesday morning. The home of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever hosted the 15th annual Million Meal Marathon.

The Million Meal Movement, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, puts on the marathon every year to help its mission of feeding hungry Hoosiers across the state.

According to organizers, more than 2,000 people joined the cause on Tuesday, volunteering their time to pack a million meals in one day.

Executive director and co-founder Nancy Hintz says the group has seen a significant increase in need over the last 10 years.

“A lot of people don’t realize that those who are actually working are not making enough money to make ends meet,” Hintz said. “They have to make choices between electricity, or medicine, or food.”

Gainbridge Fieldhouse has hosted the Million Meal Marathon for the last six years.

Richie Smith, associate director of community engagement for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, says that since the Pacers and Fever represent Indiana, it’s important for them to work to improve the community.

“It’s just a chance for us to host something that’s really impactful for the community,” Smith said. “Anytime we can be intentional and impactful, we’re going to be right there.”

Companies like KeyBank join the event every year and help out in the morning hours. More volunteers take over packing shifts later in the day.

The bank’s president in central Indiana, Juan Gonzalez, says the Million Meal Marathon is a way for his company to be involved with the community it serves.

“It’s also a way to do something today that [our employees] can see the result at the end of the day,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a long day, but it’s super, super important for the community.”

For some volunteers, the event is a tradition. Emily Spoerner says she’s helped for most of her life.

This year, she participated through her job.”It just fills my heart so much knowing that these meals go to local families in need, and it’s great to give back to our community.”

Since the Million Meal Movement was founded in 2007, it has packed more than 36 million meals for distribution to food banks and pantries across Indiana. Each meal costs about 50 cents to make.

Click here to learn more about the Million Meal Movement.

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — Court records have revealed new information in the death and disappearance of Hailey Buzbee.

The 17-year-old Hamilton Southeastern High School student was reported missing on Jan. 5, sparking a search that garnered national attention. Police later discovered her remains in Perry County, Ohio, prompting an outpouring of support from friends, coworkers, and the community.

Ohio police confiscated a black 2014 Acura driven by Tyler Thomas, 39, and his Android cellphone. They’re investigating its contents to piece together what happened.

Thomas initially told police he picked up Buzbee from her Fishers’ home and dropped her off at the Indiana-Ohio border. But police said, Thomas’ cellular data contradicts that, and he traveled directly to Columbus, Ohio, and then to a rental cabin about an hour away in Logan, Ohio. According to police, Thomas said he was alone, but rental records show the reservation was for two people.

Documents claimed Thomas admitted to police he met Buzbee while gaming online and they were communicating on an encrypted app called Session for more than a year. He said that app was used to plan the juvenile’s runaway attempt. Session’s terms of use indicate users must be at least 18 years old. Buzbee was 17.

Greg Schiller has seen this pattern before. He’s part of Child Rescue Coalition, an organization dedicated to protect children from sexual exploitation. “Predators will meet children in any number of places across the internet, websites, apps, gaming systems, and they will bridge them over to another application that the predator feels is more secure and that the victim will feel no one will see those messages. Session, among other apps, provide that anonymity for the offender to protect themselves from potential law enforcement investigation on the back end.”

Additionally, a hairtie and 47 photographs were found inside the Acura. Police swabbed it for DNA and were awaiting results.

Thomas’ lawyer said Thomas led police to Buzbee’s remains.

Police said Thomas is the last known person to have contact with the teen.

Thomas has not been charged in Buzbee’s disappearance and death, but he is charged with pandering sexual material involving minors and tampering with evidence. Police say a photo of another child being sexually abused was found on Thomas’s cellphone.

A court hearing set Tuesday for Thomas has been canceled.

After weeks of below-freezing weather, snow-covered sidewalks and slush-lined streets around Indianapolis could melt this week as temperatures climb into the upper 30s and 40s and, for the most part, remain there.

Meteorologists with the local National Weather Service predict milder temperatures starting Monday in Central Indiana before rain and (yes) a chance of snow returns in the forecast just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Here’s a quick look at Central Indiana’s weather this week.

When will temperatures get above freezing in Indianapolis? Soon, but snow could return

Temperatures across Central Indiana are expected to climb as high as 37 degrees Monday, Feb. 9, then higher Tuesday, reaching into the mid-40s and 50s, according to NWS. A chance for snow, however, exists Thursday and Friday.

Meteorologists in a Monday social media post also warned warming conditions could lead to an increased threat of ice jams — when large chunks of broken ice block the flow of rivers — that could cause localized flooding.

What’s the Valentine’s Day forecast in Indianapolis, Indiana?

Take an umbrella if you plan to go out Saturday in the Indianapolis area for Valentine’s Day. There’s a 40-50% chance of rain. Even if it doesn’t, temperatures are expected to range in the 30s and 40s, so take a coat.

Central Indiana weather forecast, per NWS

🌤️ Monday: Sunny early, then becoming partly sunny, with a high near 37 and a low with a low around 30.