Rural families in Alaska receive Thanksgiving via airdrop from an Alaska native.

In some of Alaska's remote areas, residents are receiving a frozen turkey for their Thanksgiving meal instead of picking it up themselves.

Esther Keim, an Alaska native, has been participating in the Alaska Turkey Bomb for three consecutive years, where she drops frozen turkeys from a small plane to remote areas in the south-central part of the state.

As a child, Keim recalls living on an Alaskan homestead.

"Keim, in a video about her efforts, stated that she grew up in Skwentna, Alaska, which is approximately 50 miles northwest of Anchorage. During the fall freeze-up, families would become trapped outside due to the inability to travel, and everything would freeze up, making it unsafe."

She recounted, "Our friend would fly and drop a turkey for Thanksgiving, which was always thrilling and enjoyable. He would also drop a newspaper containing a pack of gum."

She told a child that a pack of gum was highly valued because it was difficult to access the store and required planning ahead.

According to Keim, the freeze-up at the beginning of winter and breakup at the end are "a minimum of three weeks" when travel is difficult.

She was inspired to start the Alaska Turkey Bomb in Anchorage after hearing of a neighboring family who were going without on Thanksgiving in 2022, and her childhood memories.

Keim shared with the Alaska Gear Company that when he heard one squirrel doesn't split three ways for dinner, he thought he would airdrop him a turkey.

She said it quickly turned into, "I remember what that meant to my family and to all the rest of the families. It was pretty special."

During Thanksgiving, the only way to reach the home in "the bush" is by plane, snowmobile, or boat, leaving everyone stranded.

Since we can reach numerous families rapidly, airdropping the birds is an efficient method.

Keim stated that she included "something special" in the turkey bomb for the three families with children, as "growing up in that area, I understand the significance of candy and its absence."

Keim and her pilot Hastings flew low while dropping packages to the kids, allowing Keim to see some children's reactions and their excitement.

Dave Luce, an 80-year-old man living northwest of Anchorage on the Yentna River, was one of Keim's 30-some turkey deliveries this year.

The Luces have known Keim since she was a child.

They take a 90-minute snowmobile ride to the nearest town once a month during winter.

Now that I'm 80, we take fewer trips, and the adventure has diminished.

"He stated that Keim has been a kind and loyal friend, adding, "She's been a real sweetheart, and she's been a real good friend." He also mentioned that Keim delivered them a 12-pound bird this year, making it a perfect Thanksgiving meal."

Keim and her pilot Heidi Hastings fly over homes in her recently rebuilt airplane until they spot a person outside. They then circle the area "low and slow" before dropping the bird.

Keim flies turkeys, which she purchases in batches of about 20, relying on donations to fund her efforts.

She joked to the Associated Press that she was glad it was cold in Alaska because she didn't have to worry about freezers.

Keim's vision for the organization is to become a nonprofit, allowing for greater funding and support to reach more rural families in Alaska, who often live off-grid.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.