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

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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

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

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And Jamal actually went to go grab that plate

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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.

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

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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

Image credits: wandaench

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Image credits: jamalhinton12

Image credits: Jamal and Mikaela

Here’s what people are saying about this lovely tradition

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kaisu-reinikainen avatar
Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've loved this story since the first year they did this and I'm happy they're still doing it! Family doesn't always mean blood relatives!

femur8888 avatar
Femur!
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of the things that make regain my faith in mankind. Sometimes also took me out from my anxiety

lamijunk_2013 avatar
Sunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this! I hope someone's grandma invites me over for dinner by accident :) I don't have a grandma of my own.

thundergirl84 avatar
Olga K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm amazed at how the Universe has brought together two people with equally big hearts filled with kindness and the ability to love and cherish another human being.

pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember reading this when it first happened. Love that they still catch up. :)

shwaqas avatar
Waqitos
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just let me cry of happiness and positivity, I will comment later. <3

blugeagua avatar
blugeagua
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow that is a young grandma! She legitimately looks more like the grandson’s mom to be honest.

emiamohler avatar
SirPatTheCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that he has his girlfriend too this is such a cute story

hannah_carelse avatar
SnowWolf
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been following this story every year. It's beautiful.

normallexgroh avatar
Normal Lexgroh
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First saw this in 2016, each year I enjoy reading the story and watching it continue.

brblog avatar
Claudia Machado
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This will remembered and reposted every single year. - Bored Panda

psalm91bev_1 avatar
Bevie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please Bored Panda....keep up with these two. They warm my entire heart over and over!

oscartherailfan avatar
Oscar Guerrero
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's hope they keep this wholesomeness up! I love this when it happens every year!

leslieupshaw avatar
Leslie Upshaw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof." -Richard Bach From: Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

kaisu-reinikainen avatar
Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've loved this story since the first year they did this and I'm happy they're still doing it! Family doesn't always mean blood relatives!

femur8888 avatar
Femur!
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of the things that make regain my faith in mankind. Sometimes also took me out from my anxiety

lamijunk_2013 avatar
Sunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this! I hope someone's grandma invites me over for dinner by accident :) I don't have a grandma of my own.

thundergirl84 avatar
Olga K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm amazed at how the Universe has brought together two people with equally big hearts filled with kindness and the ability to love and cherish another human being.

pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember reading this when it first happened. Love that they still catch up. :)

shwaqas avatar
Waqitos
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just let me cry of happiness and positivity, I will comment later. <3

blugeagua avatar
blugeagua
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow that is a young grandma! She legitimately looks more like the grandson’s mom to be honest.

emiamohler avatar
SirPatTheCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that he has his girlfriend too this is such a cute story

hannah_carelse avatar
SnowWolf
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been following this story every year. It's beautiful.

normallexgroh avatar
Normal Lexgroh
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First saw this in 2016, each year I enjoy reading the story and watching it continue.

brblog avatar
Claudia Machado
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This will remembered and reposted every single year. - Bored Panda

psalm91bev_1 avatar
Bevie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please Bored Panda....keep up with these two. They warm my entire heart over and over!

oscartherailfan avatar
Oscar Guerrero
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's hope they keep this wholesomeness up! I love this when it happens every year!

leslieupshaw avatar
Leslie Upshaw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof." -Richard Bach From: Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

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