The framework of small-town America is held up by two things: community and local businesses. In Wilmore, the two of those are embodied by Leonard Fitch, the owner of Fitch’s IGA and affectionately known as “Mr. Wilmore.” The slow decline of small businesses, Fitch’s IGA included, has coincidentally brought more people together in an effort to save them. Wilmore has seen this, and now Asbury students are starting to work toward this effort.
Fitch’s IGA has been a Wilmore staple for nearly 70 years, opening its doors to the public in 1956. This IGA location has truly been a small-town, family business; Fitch’s parents opened the store and Fitch has been working there since he was 16. A few years later, he met his late wife, Emily Fitch (née Coblbath) when they both attended Asbury University, and they had been running the store together until her passing in January of 2024. Beyond owning and running IGA, Fitch has been on Wilmore City Council for over 50 years.
“Leonard Fitch knows everything that’s happening in Wilmore,” Senior Emelia Conley explained. “If you need anything to happen, you go to him. For him to be dealt such a big blow when his wife passed, we just wanted to be able to give back to him.”
Asbury students have been shopping at Fitch’s for several years, though customer numbers have started to drop. The women of Kenyon House (part of the Aldersgate residence community), Conley included, have one main service project each semester. This semester, they chose to partner with Fitch and Appalachian Regional Healthcare to support the IGA and hurricane victims.
The idea was coined by Emily Leininger, Resident Director of Aldersgate. Kenyon House ran with it, soon talking to Fitch about the idea.
“We came and asked Fitch, ‘What would be most helpful for you?’” Conley recounted. “He said, ‘The only thing I need is customers.’”
As a way to supplement Fitch’s need for customers and create a service event, they put on the event this past Saturday, Nov. 2. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., the women from Kenyon House and other Asbury students walked to Fitch’s IGA and began their work. The opportunities for service included cleaning in and outside of the store and donations. Donations were bought in the IGA as a way to support the business and to help hurricane victims, all donated to Appalachian Regional Healthcare. At the table set up outside the store, people were able to drop off their donations and sign a card for Fitch, emphasizing the love Wilmore has towards him. Next to the card sat a plate of peanut butter cookies, made that day in IGA’s bakery.
“I don’t think people should be hesitant to shop at IGA,” Conley expands. “If we don’t support our local businesses, then they won’t be here anymore. Asbury is one of the biggest parts of Wilmore, and so is IGA. So I think they should come together and support each other as much as possible.”
The three-hour event proved to be successful. Many items were donated, over 30 people signed the card and there were more monetary donations than expected. Conley and the women of Kenyon House brought some of the struggles of Fitch’s IGA to the attention of Asbury students and hope that this service event will bring Fitch what he needs–customers.
