To honor the tireless ongoing work happening in Letcher County, the Letcher County Community Foundation created the Mountain Strong Award. This award recognizes an individual or organization whose involvement in the community has made a significant impact to the Letcher County community.
On February 9th, the Letcher County Community Foundation board members presented the inaugural Mountain Strong award to Gwen Christon, owner of Isom IGA. Christon’s service to her community during the historic flooding in eastern Kentucky provided hope and inspiration to Letcher County and the entire region. Her resolve, determination, and commitment to the community and neighbors never wavered. Christon has been recognized locally and nationally for her flood recovery efforts and determination to reopen her local family-owned grocery store. In addition to the Mountain Strong award, the Letcher County Community Foundation awarded Christon a $5,000 grant to assist in flood relief and recovery work necessary to re-establish her business.
The Letcher County Community Foundation was established in December 2022 to serve the people in Letcher County with a local focus. The Letcher County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky – a nationally accredited community foundation located in eastern Kentucky. Advisory board members for the Letcher County Community Foundation are Heather Combs (Chair), Angie Hatton, (Vice-Chair), Heather Burton (Secretary), Jeffery Justice (Treasurer), Damion Johnson, Valerie Horn, Larissa Bailey, and Seth Long
To donate to the Letcher County Community Foundation, mail checks to Letcher County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 632, Whitesburg, KY 41858 or online at http://bit.ly/LetCoCF.
