Requesting Assistance

You Are Not Alone

Life can be unpredictable. Unexpected medical bills, job changes, or difficult seasons can happen to anyone. At Give Till It Hurts, we believe that asking for help is an act of courage, not a sign of weakness.

Since 2015, our mission has been simple: neighbors helping neighbors. If you live in Williamsburg or the surrounding Iowa County area and are facing financial hardship this holiday season, we want to ensure your children have gifts under the tree, warm coats on their backs, and nutritious food on the table.

Most importantly, we prioritize your privacy. We have developed a discreet application process that works primarily through the people who know your children best—their schools.

How Our Assistance Process Works

To ensure donations go exactly where they are needed while maintaining strict confidentiality, Give Till It Hurts partners directly with school administrators and counselors across Iowa County. We do not publish the names of families we assist.

Step 1: Contact Your School Counselor

The fastest and most direct way to be included in our holiday distribution program is to reach out to the guidance counselor or administration office at your child’s school. These staff members work closely with us to identify families who would benefit from extra support.

We currently work with the following school districts:

• Williamsburg Community School District
• Amana Elementary
• English Valleys
• HLV (Hartwick-Ladora-Victor)
• Iowa Valley
• Lutheran Interparish School (LIS)

Step 2: Identification of Needs

Once connected, school representatives help us understand specific needs—whether that is winter apparel (coats, hats, gloves), specific toys for Christmas morning, or assistance with food security during the winter break.

Step 3: Distribution

Funds and items raised at our annual events are distributed to the schools, who then pass them on to the families. This ensures that you are working with familiar faces in a safe environment.

What We Provide

Thanks to the generosity of donors at our annual Give Till It Hurts fundraising event at the Sundown Bar and Grill event as well as our fundraising throughout the year, we are able to offer several types of support.

• Holiday Gifts: Toys, games, and wish-list items to make sure Christmas morning is magical.
• Winter Apparel: New coats, snow pants, boots, and warm clothing to protect against Iowa winters.
• School Supplies: Ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
• Food & Nutrition: Partnerships to provide meals when school lunches aren’t available during break.

Additional Community Resources

If you do not have children in the school districts listed above, or if you have immediate needs outside of the holiday season, we work alongside several amazing local organizations. We encourage you to reach out to these partners as well.

The Love Network

A vital resource in Iowa County, the Love Network assists with various needs throughout the year. We frequently coordinate with them to ensure we aren’t duplicating efforts and are reaching as many families as possible.

Iowa County Food Bank

No family should go hungry. The Food Bank provides essential nutrition to residents. Funds raised by Give Till It Hurts are often shared with the Food Bank to stock shelves during high-demand seasons.