Lucky 13: Give Till It Hurts

WILLIAMSBURG — Friday the 13th will be a lucky day for Iowa County children. That’s the day Sundown Bar and Grill in Williamsburg will encourage patrons to Give Till It Hurts.

The annual Give Till It Hurts campaign started nearly 10 years ago, said Sundown owner Tonya Grimm from her bar. “It started here.”

Dan Lillis and Ryan Striegel wanted to make sure every child in Iowa County had a Christmas, said Grimm. “They’re the powerhouse of it.”

Give Till It Hurts is not a Williamsburg thing, said Grimm. It raises money for children all over Iowa County. Each year, organizers try to include people from other towns to emphasize the countywide reach.

Give Till It Hurts has grown enough that it’s no longer just about Christmas, Grimm said. The campaign also supplies backpacks to children going back to school each August.

Money from Friday’s event will be used to buy gift cards that schools in Iowa County can distribute to families in need. Sundown also collects for Toys for Tots and food pantries.

Everything stays in Iowa County, said Grimm.

Give Till It Hurts takes donations all year long. People who attended a car show in Williamsburg this summer donated $800 to Give Till It Hurts, Grimm said.

The organization will take bids for silent auction items from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Sundown Bar.

From 5-9 p.m. patrons can buy tickets for the 50/50 raffle and for six raffle prizes — a griddle and five different firearms.

Battle of the Bartenders will feature two men from North English, said Grimm. They’ll be going round the bar selling shots.

A live auction begins at 9 p.m.

The annual Give Till It Hurts event is a popular one, said Grimm. “The place is packed that night. It’s a lot of fun.”

Grimm took ownership of Sundown Bar and Grill in April, but she’s not new to the establishment or to Give Till It Hurts. She worked for former owner John Donahue for 10 years.

Donahue owned the bar for more than 30 years, said Grimm, and still owns Parnell Tavern.

Grimm and Donahue are both on the Give Till It Hurts committee, as are Jessica and Garret from Hlubek Dozark Law Office and Angie and Scott Westcott.

“The support is really good here,” said Grimm.

Donations of cash, toys, non-perishable food and gift cards can be left at Sundown Bar and Grill, Parnell Tavern, Lillis Insurance, Axis Vision Eyecare and Hlubek Dozark Law Office.