Every Thursday night from 10 p.m. to midnight, hundreds of Millersville University students gather at the Student Lodging Inc. pavilion at Hillview and South Prince for Jesus Dogs. Jesus Dogs, commonly called JDogs, is a weekly event hosted by the New Life Fellowship Church and MU's Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

[Link]A record of 1,506 hot dogs were served in just one night.

The event serves as a place for MU students to hang out and grab a free hot dog after a long week of classes. Duane Metzler, the pastor of New Life Fellowship, is always around for students who want to talk, pray or delve deeper into the Christian faith. However, all students regardless of religious affiliation are welcome. Metzler speaks on how he prioritizes making all students feel welcome at JDogs.

"I've always said if you can look past externals of people and realize we're all human beings at a heart level, we have so much in common," says Metzler. "I think all of us are looking and longing for similar things like respect, kindness and love. Basically, all the things that I value about my faith and the person of Jesus Christ I believe is what everybody is looking for and longing for."

Going into its 15th year since it began in January of 2010, JDogs has become a not-so-hidden gem. Originally founded as a safe checkpoint for students attending parties on Thursday nights, it soon became a much larger affair that sometimes serves as a solution to food insecurity among college students.

"It has become that point where if we are providing a free meal for a student then at least they're going to eat something and that's a win," says Metzler. "We really do care about the students and feeding them is one way."

[Link]For those looking for inspiration or motivation, proverbs and verses are available at the condiments table.

JDogs has become a positive space for students to interact with one another. Metzler says his favorite part is when students come up and have a conversation with him. He also appreciates seeing that people rarely have their phones out, letting them live in the present moment. For those looking for inspiration or motivation, proverbs and verses are available at the condiments table.

From what started as a crowd of about 200 students in 2010 has built up to over a thousand students in 2024, setting a record of 1,506 hot dogs served in just one night. The event now even has merchandise, and shirts are often sold onsite. Occasionally, extra goodies are provided for weeks like Halloween or winter break. Some of these include ice cream, cookies, water and even hot apple cider. These goods can get expensive fast, but Metzler has no plans of stopping anytime soon. Anyone who wants to support can donate on Venmo to @JesusDogs.

The event is hosted every Thursday night. Schedule changes for inclement weather are posted on Instagram @jesusdogsofficial.

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