Thanksgiving Strangers Who Went Viral Will Spend 8th Year Together
In 2016, a grandmother in Arizona sent a Thanksgiving group text to invite her family to that year’s gathering. One unintended recipient replied back, “Who is those..” (sic). Wanda Dench replied, “Your grandma”. Jamal Hinton, still unsure of the text, asked for a granny pic and when Dench sent it, the duo realized that it was the wrong number.
Hinton responded with a picture of himself and asked if he could still get a plate. Without pause, Dench said of course because that’s what grandmothers do… feed everyone! The cute exchange could have ended there, but thanks to the Internet Gods, the pair actually met in person and documented the experience for everyone following along on social media!
The warmhearted duo of a then 17-year-old student and 62-year-old matriarch began their unexpected, lifelong friendship. Jamal did attend Wanda’s feast that year. And she invited him back for the next one. And the one after that. And each year since their coincidental convo.
The pair have become fixtures in each other lives celebrating the ups and downs together. Dench lost her husband Lonnie to COVID in April, 2020, and Jamal informed their compassionate fans of the news. Wanda helped Jamal with business advice so he could launch his car-wrapping company, and they became partners in a water line too. Jamal accompanied Wanda to get her first tattoo (honoring her loved ones) last year, and they’ve also been in talks with Netflix about a movie documenting their feelgood story.
This will mark the eighth year the twosome celebrate their November tradition. This time, another lucky winner is invited to enjoy the event with them thanks to Airbnb. The stay will take place on November 20, 2023, and you know we’ll be all over it like gravy on mashed potatoes.
Here’s to another year of family, food, and fun… something we can all be thankful for. Even if we’re strangers.
