HOOVERSVILLE, Pa. (WJAC) — The small community of Hooversville is fighting to keep their town’s Family Dollar open.

Community members say the store has only been there for five years, and they’re not ready to see it go.

“Some people were really upset, and others were just really distraught over it because a lot of people shop here," says Hooversville resident Dashanti Garlitz.

“You’re gonna have 90-year-old women not knowing what to do in the wintertime when they need stuff,” says Garlitz. “Everything else is about 15 miles away either way, Johnstown or Somerset. There are just some things here at this store that are very convenient.”

In March, the chain's owner, Dollar Tree, announced the closure of 390 Family Dollar stores around the country.

Garlitz believes the store's departure puts older residents at risk.

He put petitions in the store and online, collecting almost 800 signatures to save the store.

“We need it, it’s the livelihood of this community,” Garlitz says.

Family Dollar management declined to comment on the store’s closing.

Garlitz is urging more community members to sign the online petition to keep the store open.

If you would like to sign the petition, click here.

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