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Grandma Who Accidentally Invited A Stranger To Thanksgiving Spends Third Thanksgiving With The Teen
With all the discord and divisiveness in the world, the Thanksgiving holiday can provide the perfect stage to bring us all together – the story of Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench is the perfect example of random acts of kindness.
For those who don’t remember, in 2016, Hinton (17-years-old at the time) received a wrong number text from Dench inviting him to a family Thanksgiving dinner.
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And Jamal actually went to go grab that plate
Since the heartwarming story first broke, Dench, has named Hinton as her ‘honorary grandson,’ which is quite fitting. In an interview with the Arizona Republic last year, Dench said, ‘It was nice having everybody here, we got to laugh about last year and reminisce about how it all blew up on our phone and how I had to change my number. We had a laugh and a good time.” Hinton found the dinner meaningful, as well. “The world is becoming a better place than it used to be,’ he said in 2017, “With all the Donald Trump going on and all the racial comments going on, it’s kind of good to remember the Thanksgiving traditions and see there are still good people out there,’ he said at the time.” Dench gave her new ‘grandson’ an open invitation for all future Thanksgivings at her house, so we foresee this tradition living on.
Three years later, Hinton and Dench still have family time together. Hinton posted their annual picture together this year with the caption: “2016, 2017…… 2018,” adding that he promised to post a video he filmed with Dench and her husband on Friday.
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What do you think ?
mulk 6 years ago
I am not American. I live in Europe. But for me that's the real meaning and purpose of Thanksgiving!
varwenea 6 years ago
mulk, What J said. ^^ It's nice to see someone truly understanding the meaning.
Load More Replies...
RitaGG 6 years ago
My Mom died 3 weeks ago. My only other family here (sister and niece) both worked Thanksgiving Day. A coworker of mine knew i would be alone, so she invited me to her house with her husband, granddaughter and another couple. I made new friends yesterday. Warms my heart typing this.
Jennifer Acampora 6 years ago
awwwwww.......lovely story.....humans can be wonderful.....I want an accidental grandma!
Whitney Speight-Carlin 6 years ago
Not old enough to be a grandma, but if you live close I could be an accidental sister!
Load More Replies...
Deborah Stowe 6 years ago
I think that is beautiful and a perfect lesson for ALL of us to remember !👍❤️
My Alter Ego 6 years ago
Too many "feel good" stories hit the headlines before fading into obscurity that it really, truly is heartwarming to see that authentic human kindness and compassion still exist in a world so full of ignorance and hate. I LOVE THIS STORY AND I LOVE THESE PEOPLE
lunanoir69 6 years ago
Everyone has always been welcome at my house for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the other 363 days of the year. I don't believe anyone should go hungry, so I've had friends bring their friends, and my little family has grown. Everyone has a fascinating story, treat people with kindness!!
Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago
Ha! I remember this story exactly from two years ago, that's so awesome they still meet! Warms heart and made my day!
Carmen Elena 6 years ago
Why can´t we all be like this? live in peace, no differences... This is exactly what thanksgiving means :) I´m not from EUA but it´s clear what this day is about :) Happy Thanksgiving -a bit late- to everyone!
The Girl on Fire 6 years ago
Love can pass all human-constructed boundaries- race, age, etc.- if we don't let our differences divide us. This is beautiful. :)
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
I remembered to see this story first time when came out ,and it's such a joy and heart warming to see that they are still doing this. I want to read this every Thanksgiving season. 😊
Valinka 6 years ago
We have this "tradition" here in Belgium, (i put tradition in "" because we probably didn't invented it), and as we are a bunch of foreigners without possibility to go back home for Christmas, that we do what we call the "Orphans Christmas": of course we are not "orphans", just a bunch of people that cannot afford to go home- or don't have any family to go home to, and we just celebrate Christmas between us. A good meal, carring people, little gifts...that is all you need :)
Full Name 6 years ago
I'd rather have your type of xmas anyway. Hope this year it's awesome!
Load More Replies...
Janet Judd 6 years ago
I'm so glad they met and had Thanksgiving together and that it still carries on each year. It's nice to meet by accident and then become friends. It's the kind of thing my Mom would do and she's fun! I'm from Canada and the country people where I grew up always seemed to have really good food and wanted to share it with other people. Thank you for this great story!
Patty cake ;3 6 years ago
That's so sweet! Warms my heart to see that there are still good people out there.
ispeak catanese 6 years ago
This is such a fun story! And BTW Jamal is absolutely gorgeous. Need to get myself invited!
Rob Chapman 6 years ago
Great to see a follow up to this story. An accidental text creates a new family bond. Awesome.
Mikhail Mangia 6 years ago
Absolutely beautiful and to open yourself up to the point of allowing emotional connection with a stranger. That’s just so awesome
Terri McGoldrick 6 years ago
Need to see more of this in society. What is his back story I wonder. Where are his parents?
Sarah Booth 6 years ago
I like these sorts of stories. It helps battle against the others that make you lose faith in humanity.
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
My favorite story for this time of the year. Home still see this in 10 years.
Dorothy Parker 6 years ago
They look like family; the comfort with each other, the affection. This made me cry.
Rebecca Jimenez 6 years ago
love this and no racism great people the both of them, to many wonderful Thanksgivings to them all
rohana mkhairani 6 years ago
the world is getting better!! love this story, it warm my heart.. skin should't be a barrier...
HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK 6 years ago (edited)
If my Gran started inviting strangers to her house i would have to put a stop to that immediately, i would be like "are you f*****g crazy Nan?, don't invite strangers to your house, for one he could be a nut-bag and another thing is less food for your actual family", now jog on stranger.
AwesomeKitty 6 years ago
That is so cute. I am an available granddaughter that will eat any food you throw at me (except lettuce.)
Scott Amundsen 6 years ago
What a beautiful story; it carries the true meaning of the holiday.
kathryn stretton 6 years ago
Love this. Saw it the first time, but never expected this follow up. Warms the cockles, doesn't it ?
Lewis Jones 6 years ago
...and we have to hear this same story every f*****g year? it is not entertaining or informative, let it die PLEASE!!!!!
Glenna Wheatley 6 years ago
Good thing Trump is NOT a racist, he's just painted that way by extreme leftists, the media, and dishonest liberal congressmen.
mulk 6 years ago
I am not American. I live in Europe. But for me that's the real meaning and purpose of Thanksgiving!
varwenea 6 years ago
mulk, What J said. ^^ It's nice to see someone truly understanding the meaning.
Load More Replies... RitaGG 6 years ago
My Mom died 3 weeks ago. My only other family here (sister and niece) both worked Thanksgiving Day. A coworker of mine knew i would be alone, so she invited me to her house with her husband, granddaughter and another couple. I made new friends yesterday. Warms my heart typing this.
Jennifer Acampora 6 years ago
awwwwww.......lovely story.....humans can be wonderful.....I want an accidental grandma!
Whitney Speight-Carlin 6 years ago
Not old enough to be a grandma, but if you live close I could be an accidental sister!
Load More Replies... Deborah Stowe 6 years ago
I think that is beautiful and a perfect lesson for ALL of us to remember !👍❤️
My Alter Ego 6 years ago
Too many "feel good" stories hit the headlines before fading into obscurity that it really, truly is heartwarming to see that authentic human kindness and compassion still exist in a world so full of ignorance and hate. I LOVE THIS STORY AND I LOVE THESE PEOPLE
lunanoir69 6 years ago
Everyone has always been welcome at my house for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the other 363 days of the year. I don't believe anyone should go hungry, so I've had friends bring their friends, and my little family has grown. Everyone has a fascinating story, treat people with kindness!!
Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago
Ha! I remember this story exactly from two years ago, that's so awesome they still meet! Warms heart and made my day!
Carmen Elena 6 years ago
Why can´t we all be like this? live in peace, no differences... This is exactly what thanksgiving means :) I´m not from EUA but it´s clear what this day is about :) Happy Thanksgiving -a bit late- to everyone!
The Girl on Fire 6 years ago
Love can pass all human-constructed boundaries- race, age, etc.- if we don't let our differences divide us. This is beautiful. :)
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
I remembered to see this story first time when came out ,and it's such a joy and heart warming to see that they are still doing this. I want to read this every Thanksgiving season. 😊
Valinka 6 years ago
We have this "tradition" here in Belgium, (i put tradition in "" because we probably didn't invented it), and as we are a bunch of foreigners without possibility to go back home for Christmas, that we do what we call the "Orphans Christmas": of course we are not "orphans", just a bunch of people that cannot afford to go home- or don't have any family to go home to, and we just celebrate Christmas between us. A good meal, carring people, little gifts...that is all you need :)
Full Name 6 years ago
I'd rather have your type of xmas anyway. Hope this year it's awesome!
Load More Replies... Janet Judd 6 years ago
I'm so glad they met and had Thanksgiving together and that it still carries on each year. It's nice to meet by accident and then become friends. It's the kind of thing my Mom would do and she's fun! I'm from Canada and the country people where I grew up always seemed to have really good food and wanted to share it with other people. Thank you for this great story!
Patty cake ;3 6 years ago
That's so sweet! Warms my heart to see that there are still good people out there.
ispeak catanese 6 years ago
This is such a fun story! And BTW Jamal is absolutely gorgeous. Need to get myself invited!
Rob Chapman 6 years ago
Great to see a follow up to this story. An accidental text creates a new family bond. Awesome.
Mikhail Mangia 6 years ago
Absolutely beautiful and to open yourself up to the point of allowing emotional connection with a stranger. That’s just so awesome
Terri McGoldrick 6 years ago
Need to see more of this in society. What is his back story I wonder. Where are his parents?
Sarah Booth 6 years ago
I like these sorts of stories. It helps battle against the others that make you lose faith in humanity.
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
My favorite story for this time of the year. Home still see this in 10 years.
Dorothy Parker 6 years ago
They look like family; the comfort with each other, the affection. This made me cry.
Rebecca Jimenez 6 years ago
love this and no racism great people the both of them, to many wonderful Thanksgivings to them all
rohana mkhairani 6 years ago
the world is getting better!! love this story, it warm my heart.. skin should't be a barrier...
HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK 6 years ago (edited)
If my Gran started inviting strangers to her house i would have to put a stop to that immediately, i would be like "are you f*****g crazy Nan?, don't invite strangers to your house, for one he could be a nut-bag and another thing is less food for your actual family", now jog on stranger.
AwesomeKitty 6 years ago
That is so cute. I am an available granddaughter that will eat any food you throw at me (except lettuce.)
Scott Amundsen 6 years ago
What a beautiful story; it carries the true meaning of the holiday.
kathryn stretton 6 years ago
Love this. Saw it the first time, but never expected this follow up. Warms the cockles, doesn't it ?
Lewis Jones 6 years ago
...and we have to hear this same story every f*****g year? it is not entertaining or informative, let it die PLEASE!!!!!
Glenna Wheatley 6 years ago
Good thing Trump is NOT a racist, he's just painted that way by extreme leftists, the media, and dishonest liberal congressmen.
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