This Thanksgiving, a different kind of bird will be taking to the skies in some of Alaska's most remote areas. It was a frozen turkey drop-off for residents who couldn't get their own turkey for their holiday table.
For the third year in a row, Alaska native Esther Keim has been participating in the Alaska Turkey Bomb, which involves dropping frozen turkeys from small planes into remote areas in the south-central part of the state.
Keim told Alaska Gear Company that he remembers living on a farm in Alaska as a child.
“I grew up in Skwentna, Alaska, about 80 miles northwest of Anchorage,” Keim said in a video about her efforts. “In the fall, families won't be able to go out because of the cold and everything will freeze. It's not safe.”
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Keim said he delivers 30 to 40 frozen turkeys to rural families every Thanksgiving. (Alaska Gear Company, via AP)
she continued. “I had a friend who was on a plane on Thanksgiving and dropped a turkey. I remember it being very exciting and a lot of fun. He was dropping newspapers and inside the newspaper was a pack of gum. .”
She said to the child: “You can't just go to the store. A pack of gum means a lot. As you know, stores are not so easily accessible, so you have to plan ahead. .”
Keim said if travel is difficult, they will freeze at the beginning of winter and break up at the end of winter for “a minimum of three weeks.”
She later moved to Anchorage and started Alaska Turkey Bombs, inspired by childhood memories and hearing that her neighbor's family near the farm where she lived wouldn't be going out for Thanksgiving in 2022. He said it was a trigger.
“He was talking about how a squirrel rarely splits into three directions at dinner, and when he said that, I thought I'd fly him a turkey,” Keim said. told Alaska Gear Company.
She said it immediately meant, “I'm going to do this for all the families that are stuck here because I remember what it means to my family and all the rest of the families.'' “It turned out to be something pretty special.” ”
Keim said there are no roads “in the bush,” and the only way to get home during Thanksgiving is by plane, snowmobile or boat. “Everyone is stuck.”
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She said airdropping birds is efficient “because it can reach so many families quickly.”
Keim added that he put “something special” in the turkey bombs he dropped on three families with children. “Because as a kid who grew up locally, I understand the meaning of candy and the lack of candy,” he added.
Keim and pilot Heidi Hastings flew so low that they could see some of the children's reactions as they delivered the packages to the children. '' he told The Associated Press.
Keim's 30-odd turkey deliveries this year included Dave Ruth, 80, who lives with his wife along the Yentna River northwest of Anchorage.
The Ruths have known Keim since he was a child.
Keim and pilot Heidi Hastings use a plane they recently modified with their father to fly over houses until they see people outside. Then they approach “slowly and low” and drop the bird. (Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company, via AP)
Once a month during the winter, they take a 90-minute snowmobile ride to the nearest town.
Ruth said: “I'm 80 years old now so I travel less and less. Adventures are gone.''
“She was a real sweetheart and a real good friend,” he added of Keim, who delivered the 12-pound bird this year. “It's going to be a great Thanksgiving.”
Keim and pilot Heidi Hastings use a plane they recently modified with their father to fly over houses until they see people outside. Then they approach “slowly and low” and drop the bird.
Keim relies heavily on turkey donations, buying about 20 at a time and leaving them in his truck until it's time to leave.
“Luckily, it's cold in Alaska, so I don't have to worry about the freezer,” she joked to The Associated Press.
Keim said he would like to turn Araxa Turkey Bomb into a nonprofit organization. (Esther Keim, via AP)
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“My vision for this is to make it a nonprofit that can get funding and more support so we can reach more parts of Alaska, families who live in rural areas, families who live off the grid. There are a lot of families who are struggling,” Keim added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
