HOLCOMBE (WEAU) -- A community is coming together in a time of great need to help save its school. Lake Holcombe school district community members quickly organized following last month's failed referendum, trying to figure out what they can do to help.

The community group hopes to raise around $300,000 through mostly private donations to help renovate the high schools gymnasium as well as outdated science classroom. They say they know it's a big undertaking, but one that's worth taking.

It's clear from just a few minutes of conversation with members of this fundraising community group that an overwhelming reason behind their need to help this school is pride.

“I graduated from Holcombe, my kids go here now, I’ve been a part of this community for nearly 30 years and the community itself has been there for me,” community fundraiser member J.D. Kirkman tells us.

Bruce Anderson spearheaded the fundraising group, he says they held their first meeting on December 7, and the ball's been rolling ever since.

“In the interest of preserving the school district we thought let's give this a shot,” he says.

The group wants to raise enough money to refurbish this science room and bring it into the 21st century. Ditto with the gymnasium where its 60 plus year old bleachers are falling apart.

“It makes me understand that the community wants their school to stay here and that they will do anything and everything to make that happen,” Lake Holcombe Superintendent Tom Goulet says.

And Goulet is right; from letters to local businesses and organizations to pleas to the Packers and Brewers and even requests to chemical companies across the country who may want to help out a science classroom, the fundraisers’ scope is wide.

“These people are working hard to make things happen and that's what it's all about,” Goulet tells us.

The group says it’s already gotten help from Rural Development, who has promised to help reimburse the group for some of the plumbing work in the science room. Ultimately the group hopes that if this fundraising effort is successful, a referendum in the future may also succeed.