INDIANAPOLIS — A record number of volunteers came together this weekend to make the holidays brighter for families across Indianapolis.

Jewish Family Services wrapped up its largest-ever Adopt-a-Family event, supporting 100 households with gifts, clothing and essential supplies.

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More than 1,500 volunteers help make holidays brighter for Indianapolis families

More than 1,500 community members gathered inside the JCC Laikin Auditorium, turning the space into a holiday workshop filled with wrapping stations, service projects and family-friendly activities.

In addition to gift donations, the event helped restock Popsie’s Pantry, Jewish Family Services’ community food pantry. The pantry provides groceries, personal care items and household essentials.

Julie Sondhelm, Clinical Director at Jewish Family Services, says the need in the community continues to grow.

“Every week, families come to us for essentials like food, laundry detergent and diapers,” she said. “These items are costly, and many simply can’t make it through the month.”

This year’s program supported 305 individuals. Organizers say one of the most meaningful parts of the event is seeing families volunteer together, teaching children early about generosity and community responsibility.

A longtime supporter shared that their own family has been involved for 20 years, and the tradition has strengthened their connection to the community. Kids participate by selecting gifts, wrapping them and learning firsthand the impact of giving.

Jewish Family Services says the continued growth of Adopt-a-Family reflects a community-wide commitment to showing up for neighbors during the holiday season.

To learn more about the program or ways to support local families, click HERE.

INDIANAPOLIS — Competitive eater Joey Chestnut won a chicken wing-eating contest at Big Ten Fan Fest in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday.

In a post on X, Major League Eating reported that Chestnut won the Ale Emporium Hermanaki Wing Eating Contest by downing a whopping 242 wings in 10 minutes. Chestnut finished in front of Nick Wehry and Miki Sudo. Wehry placed second by eating 187 wings, and Sudo finished third by consuming 144 wings.

Sudo and Wehry came into the contest at No. 5 and No. 6 in Major League Eating’s rankings, respectively. Chestnut was No. 1 before Saturday’s competition began.

“The hardest thing about this contest is, you don’t know if you’re ahead,” Chestnut said in an interview after Saturday’s competition. “In other contests, you can tell if you finish your plate before the next person and you’re moving on. This one, you’re worried. You don’t know if you’re cleaning your bones well enough. You don’t knew where everybody else is at at all. So, you kinda just focus on your plate, don’t panic, and just keep putting it down.”

Saturday’s contest featured a total prize purse of $3,000. Prize payouts were as follows:

• First place — $1,500
• Second place — $750
• Third place — $400
• Fourth place — $200
• Fifth place — $100
• Sixth place — $50.

An eating competition has been held during Big Ten Fan Fests in previous years. St. Elmo Steakhouse used to be the title sponsor of the contest, and competitive eaters used to come from far and wide to engage in a shrimp cocktail-eating contest. This year, Ale Emporium replaced St. Elmo as the contest’s title sponsor, and thus the eatery’s Hermanaki wings were subbed in for shrimp cocktail.

Chestnut is from Westfield, Indiana. He’s won the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest 17 times. Chestnut also broke a popcorn-eating record at an Indiana Rural King in May.

He holds world eating records for Eggo waffles, Hostess Donettes, Twinkies, apple pies, fish tacos, gyros, funnel cakes, corned beef sandwiches, Pizza Hut P’Zones and hot dogs — among other things.