Grandma And ‘Stranger’ Are Going To Share 4th Thanksgiving Together After She Accidentally Sent Him An Invitation (Updated)

Thanksgiving is a day that should be spent in the company of family members, close friends, and loved ones. It’s a day that helps all of us come together, give thanks, and eat loads of delicious food (could you please pass the yams?). Sometimes, Thanksgiving is a holiday that forges new and unexpected relationships. Like in the case of 62-year-old Wanda Dench and 20-year-old Jamal Hinton.

This will be the fourth Thanksgiving that the two families will spend together, all because of an accidental text message sent out back in 2016 that brought complete strangers together.

This heartwarming story is sure to make you smile and might even make you want to use the holiday as an excuse to share your delicious turkey with people in your community whom you’d love to get to know better.

4 years ago, Dench sent a text message to Hinton by accident, inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner

Grandma And 'Stranger' Are Going To Share 4th Thanksgiving Together After She Accidentally Sent Him An Invitation (Updated)

Here’s Justin, the real grandson, as well as his girlfriend Amanda

Grandma And 'Stranger' Are Going To Share 4th Thanksgiving Together After She Accidentally Sent Him An Invitation (Updated)

And Jamal actually went to go grab that plate

Grandma And 'Stranger' Are Going To Share 4th Thanksgiving Together After She Accidentally Sent Him An Invitation (Updated)

4 years ago, Dench thought she sent out a text message, inviting her grandson to a filling Thanksgiving meal. However, she sent the message to a wrong number, belonging to Hinton, who was 17 years old and a high school senior in Phoenix, Arizona, at the time.

After exchanging selfies to confirm that they, in fact, did not know each other, Hinton wondered if he could drop by for a spot of Thanksgiving food anyway. Being the amazing person that she is, Dench said of course he could come: “That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone.”

Since then, the two have become fast friends and honorary grandson and grandmother. According to Dench, it’s good to remember Thanksgiving traditions “and see there are still good people out there.” Dench has extended Hinton an open invitation to join her family for Thanksgiving dinner for all Thanksgivings to come, so see you again this time next year, folks!

Let us know what your Thanksgiving plans are in the comments below. I personally am planning on getting some baked potatoes, some cranberry sauce, and a bit of turkey, and watching some cozy TV shows tonight. Unless one of you wants to invite me to your home for Thanksgiving dinner.

Since the first shared meal together 4 years ago, Dench and Hinton have met for Thanksgiving every year!

Grandma And 'Stranger' Are Going To Share 4th Thanksgiving Together After She Accidentally Sent Him An Invitation (Updated)

Dench and Hinton also meet up outside of the Thanksgiving dining room

Image credits: jamalhinton12

Hinton confirmed that he will spend Thanksgiving 2019 with his honorary grandma

Image credits: kingjamal08

Grandma And 'Stranger' Are Going To Share 4th Thanksgiving Together After She Accidentally Sent Him An Invitation (Updated)

Image credits: wandaench

Image credits: jamalhinton12

Image credits: Jamal and Mikaela

Here’s what people are saying about this lovely tradition

Grandma And 'Stranger' Are Going To Share 4th Thanksgiving Together After She Accidentally Sent Him An Invitation (Updated)

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Read less »

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

Read less »