Alaska’s Turkey Bomb Delivers Holiday Cheer by Plane

Alaska’s Turkey Bomb Delivers Holiday Cheer by Plane \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ In remote parts of Alaska, where grocery stores are inaccessible, Esther Keim continues her heartwarming holiday tradition: airdropping frozen turkeys to families living off the grid. Inspired by her childhood experiences, Keim has grown her “Turkey Bomb” effort, delivering over 30 turkeys this year to remote cabins and communities.

Thanksgiving in Alaska: Turkeys Delivered by Plane

• The Turkey Bomb: Esther Keim flies turkeys to remote Alaskan families, ensuring they have Thanksgiving meals.
• Remote Living: Alaska’s wilderness makes basic necessities a challenge, especially in winter.
• Heartwarming Tradition: Inspired by her own childhood, Keim’s efforts have grown through donations and social media.
• Yearly Deliveries: Keim drops 30–40 turkeys annually, flying up to 100 miles.
• Future Goals: She hopes to create a nonprofit to expand her reach and add extras like toys for children.

Deep Look

In Alaska’s rugged wilderness, where grocery stores and delivery services like DoorDash are out of reach, Esther Keim is delivering more than just food—she’s delivering joy. For the third year running, Keim has taken to the skies in a small plane, airdropping frozen turkeys to families living off the grid. Her “Turkey Bomb” tradition ensures that even the most remote residents can enjoy a proper Thanksgiving feast.

Flying Turkeys to Remote Alaska

Alaska’s geography presents unique challenges. With only 20% of the state accessible by road and winter conditions making travel even harder, many residents in rural areas rely on planes, snowmobiles, or frozen rivers as makeshift roads. For families living in isolated cabins, even basic necessities can be difficult to obtain.

Keim, who grew up on a homestead in Alaska, knows this struggle firsthand. As a child, her family received airdropped turkeys from a friend, along with occasional newspapers and small treats. Those memories inspired her to begin her own turkey deliveries years later.

The Birth of the Turkey Bomb

The idea began after Keim learned of a nearby family struggling to make ends meet. “They told me that a squirrel didn’t go far when split among three people,” she recalled. Moved by their plight, she decided to fly over and drop them a frozen turkey.

Since then, her efforts have expanded through word of mouth and social media. This year alone, she delivered 32 turkeys to remote homes and cabins, wrapping each bird in plastic and keeping them frozen in the bed of her pickup truck until the flights could be arranged.

“Luckily, it’s cold in Alaska, so I don’t have to worry about freezers,” Keim said with a laugh.

Making the Drops

Keim typically flies with a “turkey dropper” who helps toss the frozen birds out of the plane. On other occasions, her friend Heidi Hastings pilots a second plane for deliveries.

Before making a drop, Keim contacts families via social media to notify them of the delivery. Once near the cabin, the plane buzzes the house to alert the residents to come outside.

“We don’t drop the turkey until we see them come out,” she said. “If they don’t see it fall, they won’t know where to look.”

When snow is deep, finding a turkey can be challenging. In one instance, a bird went missing for five days before being located. The only permanent casualty of her efforts so far has been a lost ham.

Keim aims for frozen lakes to make retrieval easier. “As far as precision, I’m definitely not the best aim,” she joked. “But I’ve never hit a house, building, person, or dog.”

Gratitude from Recipients

Among the beneficiaries this year were Dave and Christina Luce, who live along the Yentna River, about 45 miles northwest of Anchorage. The Luces, now in their 80s, make the 90-minute snowmobile ride to town only once a month.

“She’s been a real sweetheart and a good friend,” Dave Luce said. The 12-pound turkey Keim delivered was more than enough for their Thanksgiving celebration, including a few neighbors.

Keim’s favorite part of the project is the heartfelt responses she receives. Families often record videos of the turkey drops and send her texts of appreciation. “They think it’s so awesome that we throw these things out of a plane,” she said.

A Growing Mission

Keim now delivers 30 to 40 turkeys annually, traveling up to 100 miles from her base near Anchorage toward the foothills of Denali. Donations, often coordinated through Facebook, help cover the cost of the turkeys and fuel for the flights.

Looking ahead, she hopes to establish a nonprofit to expand her reach across Alaska. She also dreams of adding small surprises, like stuffed animals for children in the villages she visits.

“There are so many kids out in the villages,” she said. “It would be cool to maybe add a stuffed animal or something they can hold.”

Thanksgiving in Alaska: A Unique Spirit

For Keim, the Turkey Bomb is more than a delivery service—it’s a way to give back and create joy in some of the most remote parts of the state. Her efforts embody the unique challenges and generosity of life in Alaska, where neighbors support each other in extraordinary ways.

As snow-covered forests and frozen lakes transform into landing zones, Keim’s flights are a reminder that even in the most isolated corners of the world, holiday traditions can unite and uplift.

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