YouTube / Associated Press
The helicopter built by Keim and his father
Americans’ favorite Thanksgiving meal isn’t easily accessible to everyone. In the most remote areas of Alaska, turkeys arrive by air.
It is the third consecutive year that Esther Keim flies helicopters and shoots turkeys at Thanksgiving time (“Thanksgiving”).
“I grew up in rural Alaska. There are no roads, and the only possible way to get there is by plane, snowmobile or boat, if you live near the river”, explains the American in an ABC News article.
When I was younger, a family friend released turkeys by air for your family and other people nearby during the holidays. Other times, the pilot delivered newspaperssometimes with a packet of chewing gum for Keim, he told .
You also know that, in the region, there are inhabitants with few possibilities, and your dinner at holiday that Americans celebrate with banquets it would be nothing more than rationed food. “They told me that one squirrel for dinner wasn’t enough for three people,” recalls Keim. “At that moment, I thought…’I’ll throw them a turkey out of the air‘.”
This is how Keim provides turkeys to the population, who have no way to access the food other than through this means. This year, it’s delivering 32 frozen turkeys for people who live year-round in cabins in areas where there are no roads.
All but two of the turkeys had been delivered by Tuesday, with plans to deliver the last two birds having been frustrated by the bad weather in the region.
Dave and Christina Lucewho live on the Yentna River, about 45 miles northwest of Anchorage, need to take a 90-minute snowmobile trip to get to the nearest city, something they do about once a month.
The 12-pound turkey Keim delivered will be more than enough for them and some neighbors, they say. “It’s a great Thanksgiving,” Dave Luce said. “She has been very sweet and a good friend.”
Keim does 30 to 40 turkey deliveries per yearflying 100 miles from his base north of Anchorage toward the foothills of Denali, in a small helicopter he built with his own hands, with the help of his father.
Buy about 20 turkeys at a time, with the help of donations, usually from people who contact you via . You wrap them in plastic trash bags and leave them in the trunk of your van until you can get a flight.
“Happily, It’s cold in Alaska, so I don’t have to worry about freezers“, it says. “As far as accuracy and hitting the target, I don’t have the best aim,” he laughs. “I’ve gotten better, but I’ve never hit a house, a building, a person or a dog.”
And there are already ideas for the coming years: Keim wants create a non-profit organizationto be able to improve your delivery service. “There are so many children in the villages,” he said. “It would be cool to add maybe a stuffed animal or something they could hug.”
