Grandma Texts Thanksgiving Invitation to the Wrong Number – A Decade Later, Her Mistake Became a Tradition

It began with a message meant for someone else, but what followed was nothing short of a modern-day miracle. A text sent to the wrong number turned strangers into family, and ten years later, the world is still watching — and wiping away tears — as their heartwarming tradition continues to unfold.

In 2016, an Arizona grandma hit send on a Thanksgiving invite. But the number no longer belonged to her grandson — it had been reassigned to 17-year-old high school senior Jamal Hinton. What happened next would forever change both of their lives.

The Accidental Invite That Touched Millions

Mesa grandmother Wanda Dench had no idea her simple message would launch one of the internet's most treasured traditions.

In a moment now immortalized online, she texted, "Thanksgiving dinner is at my house on Nov. 24 at 3:00pm. Let me know if you're coming. Hope to see you all. Of course that includes Amanda & Justin [sic]."

But the number didn't belong to her grandson. Jamal replied, confused, "Who is those [sic]..." To which Wanda responded, "Your grandma." When he asked for a photo, she sent a smiling selfie from work.

Jamal's cheeky reply? "You not my grandma. Can I still get a plate tho [sic]?" And her now-iconic answer sealed the deal, "Of course you can. That's what grandma's do...feed every one [sic]."

From Stranger to Chosen Family

Jamal, only a teen at the time, later admitted, "Ninety percent of me already knew it wasn't my grandmother," noting that he knew she didn't text. But curiosity — and kindness — won out.

"It was scary," he recalled, describing the 45-minute drive to meet a complete stranger. But he felt safe knowing the story had gone viral and reporters would be nearby. "All doubts of her maybe being a serial killer just went away the second I saw her face," he joked.

Wanda almost didn't reply to his photo. "I was just about to click that delete button," she revealed. "And then something just came over me and said, 'No, say how you really feel.'"

That first Thanksgiving? Overrun with media crews. "We had more media people at my house than we had family members," Wanda recalled.

But the real magic came afterward — when Wanda and her late husband Lonnie invited Jamal and his girlfriend Mikaela over for a quiet dinner. They talked for hours. No awkwardness. Just an instant connection. "We were just like pals for forever... and that grew into family and love," Wanda said.

A Tradition Etched in Time

From that day forward, Thanksgiving wasn't just a holiday — it became a living, breathing tradition for Wanda and Jamal. Each year, the pair posed for a new photo, shared online like clockwork — a beacon of warmth in a divided world.

One Instagram post by Jamal in 2017 read, "Take it back to Thanksgiving 😅👵🏻." In 2018, Jamal wrote, "It's a tradition now #thanksgiving2018."

In 2019, the pair smiled for a picture outdoors, Jamal in a white shirt and Wanda in a warm black cardigan. Later, in 2021, Wanda shared a photo of herself, Jamal, Mikaela, and a framed picture of her late husband, Lonnie.

In January 2023, Jamal posted a carousel that included a mistaken text from a girl named Ella and the original 2016 exchange, ending with a recent photo of him and Wanda smiling together.

Later that year, on November 1, Jamal shared, "To celebrate our eighth Thanksgiving together (yes, eight!), we're partnering with @airbnb this year to host a couple extra seats at our table 🦃."

On November 22, he posted, "Our year 8 selfie 🧡 Thanks for staying with us, Arseni, and for being part of the good in the world this holiday season."

A Decade of Gratitude – And a New Partnership

This year, Thanksgiving 2025, marked a major milestone: Ten years of Thanksgivings together. And to make the moment even more memorable, Jamal and Wanda partnered with Green Giant — itself celebrating 100 years of feeding families.

"Ten Thanksgivings ago, a simple text brought us together," Jamal penned. "This year, we're celebrating a decade of friendship by partnering with @greengiant_vegetables..."

A second post on November 13 teased, "Thanksgiving prep is in full swing! This year, we're excited to enjoy some of our favorite side dishes, including a classic green bean casserole..."

Wanda added, "Sharing our 10th year — alongside Green Giant's 100th anniversary — makes this holiday feel especially meaningful."

'Bigger Than Mariah': Internet Reacts to Tenth Thanksgiving

As expected, their 10th Thanksgiving update sent waves across social media. One fan gushed, "Some people think it's not the holidays until Mariah thaws. For me it's not the season until yall are on the feed."

Another chimed in, "this is way bigger than Mariah ❤️😂 [sic]." And a third declared, "Right! When I see them I know it's Holiday Time. One of the best stories ever."

Even Jamal still marvels at the attention, "As a kid, I always dreamed of being famous. So to know our story brings joy to people — it means everything."

Wanda, laughing, confessed, "I used to think people might get tired of us hogging up the news. But every time someone says the kindest thing, I'm reminded that we bring joy. That's worth everything."

From Viral Fame to Real Friendship

In a 2023 interview, Jamal reflected on how the once-random encounter became something deeply meaningful. "I went over, and we've been over every single year, and here we are today." He further mentioned, "[Wanda's] someone I can call, someone that I can go to with my problems," he stated. "She'll help me sort them out."

Wanda shared that their bond has helped her see life differently. "Jamal taught me so much about friendship," she expressed. "Jamal will always be a part of me."

Jamal added that knowing Wanda changed his life. "I feel like, if I'd never met her, that I'd have like a piece of me missing in a weird way. I would have never known what that piece was, but I feel like that piece of me is filled. I'm just happy that we got to meet and that we share this bond that we have now."

After a decade of Thanksgivings, their friendship has grown far beyond a viral dinner table. They've shown up for birthdays, family milestones — even tattoo appointments.

In September 2022, Wanda decided to get inked with a tribute to her loved ones. "Got my first tattoo at age 65. 3 shooting stars-one for my husband, mother and father. My guardian angels," she captioned her Instagram post. And who was right by her side? Of course, Jamal.

Real Loss, Real Life, and Real Love

Behind the viral fame lies a story of resilience, grief, and grace. In 2020, Wanda lost her beloved husband, Lonnie, to COVID complications. That Thanksgiving, Jamal and Mikaela dropped off a care package, observing social distance but never letting go of their bond.

"I think of him every day," Wanda said softly. "His spirit is always with us." Jamal makes it a point to honor Lonnie's memory each year. "I never want the world to forget him."

In 2023, Wanda was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though she kept it quiet at first, she later went public to help others. After her Instagram was hacked, Jamal reposted her story. "Now I'm cancer-free," Wanda announced. Her hope? That her journey reminds older women to get regular screenings.

What Comes Next for the Viral Family?

Though Netflix's "The Thanksgiving Text" — a film adaptation announced in 2021 — has since been shelved, Wanda and Jamal aren't giving up hope. "Maybe something will come up in the future," Wanda hinted.

Now retired, Wanda is focused on finding her new passion. "Maybe volunteer work, maybe a part-time job on my own terms," she revealed.

Jamal, meanwhile, has his hands full — and his heart wide open. From launching a car-accident law group to expanding his youth suicide-prevention nonprofit, coaching basketball, and partnering on mental health initiatives with his mother, he's driven by purpose.

"My life is pretty jam-packed," he admitted. "But I love it. I’m helping people, and I feel like that's what I was put on this planet to do."

Ten years on, the message behind that fateful first Thanksgiving remains unchanged — and unforgettable. "Thanksgiving is the only time we don't get to have really great conversations with each other because we're always interviewing!" Wanda laughed.

Still, the tradition lives on — not just in turkey and green bean casserole, but in the reminder that family isn't always who you're born to. Sometimes, it's who shows up, year after year, with a full plate and an open heart.