A mistaken text message sent by a grandmother inviting a stranger to Thanksgiving dinner has blossomed into an enduring friendship over the past decade. This heartwarming story began in 2016 when Jamal Hinton, then a high school senior, received an unexpected group text on his new phone number. The message, which he initially thought was from his grandmother, invited him to a Thanksgiving meal.
As Hinton read the message, he sensed something was off. “Ninety percent of me already knew it wasn’t my grandmother,” he recalled, noting that his grandma does not text. To confirm his suspicion, he asked the sender for a selfie, which he received. The photo featured Wanda Dench, a woman he had never met. Hinton’s response became an instant classic: “You not my grandma. Can I still get a plate though?”
Wanda’s reply was equally endearing: “Of course you can. That’s what grandma’s do…feed everyone.” Hinton shared their exchange on social media, and it rapidly gained traction online, capturing the hearts of many. Following this viral moment, Wanda’s grandson arranged for a meeting between them at her home, an event that Hinton described as nerve-wracking.
“I was 17 at the time, and it was scary because it was about a 45-minute drive away from my house. I didn’t know Wanda, obviously, or her family,” he admitted during an interview on the Today Show. He gathered the courage to attend, motivated in part by the presence of media coverage.
The initial meeting exceeded expectations, and the two have since continued their tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving together every year. Now, they are marking their 10th Thanksgiving as friends, a decade that has seen Hinton transition into adulthood, navigate the challenges of the pandemic, and witness Wanda endure personal hardships, including the loss of her husband and treatment for breast cancer.
Their friendship has deepened over the years, with both Hinton and Dench expressing the joy this connection brings to their lives. “There was no generation gap at all… like we were just like pals for forever,” Wanda, now 68, shared in a recent interview. “That grew into family and love, and I feel so blessed.”
Reflecting on their journey, Hinton remarked, “It’s just amazing to sit back and think that one mistaken text led to so many people’s happiness and joy.” The annual reunions continue to captivate followers online, who eagerly anticipate updates from the duo as they alternate hosting duties for their Thanksgiving meals each year.
This story serves as a reminder of the unexpected ways in which technology can forge connections, bringing people together in ways that might otherwise never occur.
