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title: Grandma Invites Stranger for Thanksgiving: Accidental Text
description: A grandma's accidental text message made her Thanksgiving dinner very popular.
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og:title: World Class Grandma Invited a Total Stranger to Thanksgiving
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# Grandma Accidentally Invites a Stranger to Thanksgiving. Now, 600 Others Want to Come

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by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Nov 18, 2016 3:53 PM UTC

by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Nov 18, 2016 3:53 PM UTC

Jamal Hinton, 17, was in class at Desert Vista High School when he received a text from a Mesa, Arizona woman who thought she was inviting her own [grandson](http://time.com/4529033/grandma-pizza-order-hurricane-matthew/) to [turkey dinner](http://time.com/4557265/thanksgiving-stream-movies-television/).

“I texted back and I said ‘who is this’ And she was like, ‘it’s your grandma.’ Hinton [told KNXV](http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/us/iyw-thanksgiving-invite-trnd/index.html).

A selfie confirmed it was not, in fact, his grandma with a new number, and he sent back a selfie of his own. But instead of dropping the exchange there, he asked if he could still get a plate of food. Her reply: “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do…feed everyone!”

Touched by the kind message, Jamal quickly posted their exchange online, but without editing out her digits.

“Everyone” responded accordingly. _The Arizona Republic_ reported that the grandma was flooded with 600 text message requests for a Thanksgiving plate. But there were no hard feelings —according to KNXV, the grandma stayed connected with Hinton who is still invited for the feast.

“People can actually connect and be so nice to each other with people they don’t even know,” Hinton told KNXV.

**_(Gifts for your family:_** [**_The 100 Most Influential Images of All Time_**](http://shop.time.com/storefront/subscribe-to-time/link/1039114.html?xid=cm-TIMEShopscTIMEArticle)**_)_**

Serving it up in Arizona, and keeping hope alive. What a gal.

\[[KNXV](http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/us/iyw-thanksgiving-invite-trnd/index.html)/[Arizona Republic](http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/11/16/phoenix-teen-accident-thanksgiving-invite-grandma/93967036/)\]

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