This is the story of a mistaken text message and how it led to a lasting relationship between two families. In 2016, Wanda Dench accidentally accidentally sent an invitation to attend her family Thanksgiving dinner to a stranger named Jamal Hinton. Although it was a mistake, Wanda invited him to her family Thanksgiving anyway and Jamal agreed to go. And they had such a good time together it became a tradition.
You can use this story to talk about traditional and non-traditional families, traditional and non-traditional celebrations, continuity and change.
Wanda's husband, Lonnie, died of COVID in 2020. Holidays can be hard when family members die. How do families cope with loss around the holidays? How can traditions change?
Story: Thanksgiving: Strangers Become Family
Page 1: Wanda Dench 
Caption: Wanda Dench
Narration: This is Wanda Dench. She’s a grandmother who lives in Mesa Arizona. Preparing for her family's Thanksgiving dinner in 2016, she made a mistake that made her famous.
Page 2: Jamal Hinton 
Caption: Jamal Hinton
Narration: It all started when Wanda tried to invite her grandson for Thanksgiving dinner <break time="1s"/> but got this young man instead: Jamal Hinton.
Page 3: You're Not My Grandma 
Caption: Jamal Hinton: "You're not my grandma."
Narration: Jamal realized that there must have been some mistake. He sent Wanda a picture of himself and told her, “You’re not my grandma.”
Page 4: Invited to Thanksgiving Dinner 
Caption: Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench
Narration: Wanda invited Jamal to come to their Thanksgiving celebration anyway. And Jamal accepted!
Page 5: A New Tradition 
Caption: Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench
Narration: Over the next four years, Jamal and his family joined Wanda's family to celebrate Thanksgiving. It became a tradition.
Page 6: Fame 
Caption: Wanda, Lonnie, Jamal and Mikaela
Narration: Newspapers and television channels picked up the story. Jamal and Wanda were famous! And it all started with an accidental text.
Page 7: Tragedy
Caption: Wanda, Lonnie, Jamal and Mikaela
Narration: Unfortunately, this year both Wanda and Wanda's husband, Lonnie came down with COVID. <break time="2s"/> And after a struggle, Lonnie died.
Page 8: Missing Lonnie 
Caption: Missing Lonnie Dench
Narration: Jamal met with Wanda and her family to celebrate the week before Thanksgiving this year.<break time="2s"/> They missed Lonnie a lot. <break time="1s"/> They put a candle and a picture by his empty plate to remember him.
Page 9: Tradition Continues 
Caption: Wanda and Jamal - photo Caitlin O'Hara, New York Times 11-2020
Narration: But it seems that the tradition will continue. Wanda and Jamal remain friends.
Page 10: Talking about new traditions, including strangers
Caption: Wanda and Lonnie Dench, Jamal Hinton and Mikaela Autumn - photo Caitlin O'Hara, NYTimes
Narration: What would you like to talk about.
