The Sweet Thanksgiving Tradition Sparked by an Accidental Text: Inside Wanda and Jamal’s Friendship 10 Years Later!
After a text sent to the wrong number brought them together, Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench will share their tenth Thanksgiving together this year. The post The Sweet Thanksgiving Tradition Sparked by an Accidental Text: Inside Wanda and Jamal’s Friendship 10 Years Later! first appeared on The Root.
Black News 
It’s been a decade since one accidental text sent to the wrong phone number led to the start of an unlikely, but beautiful friendship. But believe it or not, 2025 will mark the tenth year that Jamal Hinton and his “Grandma” Wanda Dench will break bread together on Thanksgiving. And they’re keeping the tradition going strong!
“Ten Thanksgivings ago, a simple text brought us together. This year, we’re celebrating a decade of friendship,” Hinton captioned a recent Instagram photo of himself and his holiday companion.
Over on X, Hinton wrote how “Wanda is moving back to Phoenix!!” and how he will post on his TikTok of the festivities “leading up to year 10. We may Livestream our Thanksgiving this year while inviting a good amount of fans to join us for year 10!”
The unlikely acquaintances found each other in 2016 when Dench texted a then-17-year-old Hinton, inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner, thinking she was reaching out to her grandson. A confused Hinton then asked the mystery texter to send him a picture of herself. Once he confirmed that it wasn’t actually his grandma, he asked the question that most hungry teens would ask, “Can I still get a plate tho?”
Dench did the grandmotherly thing and opened her home to feed Hinton, an invitation that led to an annual tradition. Over the course of their friendship, Hinton and Dench have been there for each other through many major life events, including Dench’s breast cancer diagnosis and the death of her husband from COVID-19 in 2020.
Here is a special message from Wanda
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) October 16, 2024pic.twitter.com/KDTWktDPfN
Hinton’s recent Instagram post has received nearly 1,000 comments from fans who live for an annual update on their friendship that has stolen the internet’s heart.
“This remains my favorite Thanksgiving story. I look forward to updates every year,” wrote someone in the comments.
Happy Thanksgiving from MY FAMILY to yours
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) November 29, 2024We are all wishing @dench_wanda a fast healthy recovery.
Year 9 didn't go as planned but we will be back better than ever for YEAR 10. See you guys next year!pic.twitter.com/GjHfb6hCE0
Others think the touching story has all of the makings of an amazing holiday movie.
“This is my favorite holiday story. @netflix needs to make a holiday movie about you two!!” wrote someone else.
It’s clear that the pair have formed a special bond and will be sharing dinners for many Thanksgivings to come.
Thanksgiving around the corner and I am still receiving text from random number! Year 8 plans are set with a great surprise!!!
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) October 16, 2023pic.twitter.com/XY8TS5CY6A
“He’s in my heart for life,” Dench told TODAY in an interview.
The post The Sweet Thanksgiving Tradition Sparked by an Accidental Text: Inside Wanda and Jamal’s Friendship 10 Years Later! first appeared on The Root.
