A sky-high delivery of holiday cheer
In the vast, untamed wilderness of Alaska, where traditional food delivery services are but a distant dream, one woman has found an extraordinary way to bring Thanksgiving dinner to families living off the grid. Esther Keim has transformed aerial turkey delivery into a heartwarming holiday tradition that’s capturing national attention.
The challenge of rural Alaska
Alaska’s landscape presents unique challenges for its residents. With only 20% of the state accessible by road, many remote families depend on small planes and snowmobiles as their primary means of transportation. For those living in isolated cabins, obtaining a Thanksgiving turkey is far from a simple grocery run.
From family tradition to community mission
Keim’s turkey-dropping mission has deep personal roots. Growing up on an Alaska homestead, she remembers family friends who would airdrop turkeys and newspapers to isolated families. Years later, after hearing about a family planning to eat squirrels for Thanksgiving, she decided to revive this compassionate tradition.
This year, Keim has planned to deliver 32 frozen turkeys to families living in roadless areas. Her method is precise yet adventurous: wrapped in plastic garbage bags, the turkeys are carefully dropped from her rebuilt plane, often landing on frozen lakes for easy retrieval.
“They were telling me that a squirrel for dinner did not split very far between three people,” Keim recalled. “At that moment, I thought … ‘I’m going to airdrop them a turkey.’”
For recipients like Dave and Christina Luce, an elderly couple living 45 miles northwest of Anchorage, Keim’s delivery is nothing short of a lifeline. “It makes a great Thanksgiving,” Dave Luce said. “She’s been a real sweetheart, and she’s been a real good friend.”
Keim’s ultimate goal extends beyond turkeys. She hopes to establish a nonprofit organization to expand her reach across Alaska, potentially adding surprises like stuffed animals for children in remote villages.
Technical precision meets compassion
Despite joking about her aim, Keim ensures safety and precision. “As far as precision and hitting our target, I am not the best aim,” she said. “I’ve gotten better, but I have never hit a house, a building, a person, or a dog.”
With social media helping spread her story, Keim has transformed a simple act of kindness into a remarkable holiday tradition. Her turkey drops provide meals and hope, connection, and community spirit to Alaska’s most isolated residents. As families across the state prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, Esther Keim’s sky-high deliveries remind us that the spirit of giving knows no geographical boundaries.
