In the remote corners of Alaska, Thanksgiving takes on a unique flavor, with frozen turkeys soaring through the sky instead of wild birds. Esther Keim, an Alaskan native, has taken it upon herself to ensure that even the most isolated families have a Thanksgiving feast, orchestrating the "Alaska Turkey Bomb" for the third year running.

Keim, who grew up in Skwentna, a remote area 50 miles northwest of Anchorage, understands the challenges of winter in the Alaskan wilderness. "During freeze-up," she explained in a video documenting her efforts, "families can become stranded because travel is impossible and everything freezes. It's simply not safe." She vividly recalls the excitement as a child when a friend would fly over and drop a Thanksgiving turkey, along with a newspaper containing a precious pack of gum. For those with limited access to stores, such a small treat held immense value.

Now residing in Anchorage, Keim was inspired to start the Alaska Turkey Bomb by those childhood memories and a story about a neighboring family who faced a Thanksgiving without a traditional meal in 2022. Hearing about their meager squirrel dinner spurred her into action. What began as a gesture for one family quickly evolved into a mission to provide for all those isolated during the harsh Alaskan winters.

With no roads to access these remote "bush" communities, planes, snowmobiles, or boats are the only means of transportation, leaving residents effectively "stuck" during freeze-up and break-up, periods lasting at least three weeks. Airdropping the turkeys, Keim explained, is the most efficient way to reach numerous families quickly.

This year, Keim and her pilot, Heidi Hastings, delivered over 30 turkeys, including one to 80-year-old Dave Luce and his wife, who live on the Yentna River northwest of Anchorage. The Luces, longtime acquaintances of Keim, appreciate the gesture, acknowledging the difficulty of frequent trips to town during the winter months. The 12-pound turkey, Luce said, "makes a great Thanksgiving."

Keim and Hastings locate families by flying over their homes until they spot someone outside. Then, they make a low and slow pass to drop the turkey. Keim purchases the turkeys in bulk (around 20 at a time) using donations and stores them in her truck, taking advantage of Alaska's naturally cold climate. She also includes special treats for families with children, understanding the significance of such small joys in remote areas.

Looking ahead, Keim aims to transform the Alaska Turkey Bomb into a non-profit organization to secure more funding and expand her reach to other remote Alaskan communities. Her goal is to bring the joy of Thanksgiving to as many off-grid families as possible.