Leland woman ordered by HOA to take down at-home food pantry

LELAND, NC (WWAY-TV) – A Brunswick County good Samaritan is in a battle against her neighborhood HOA after she was asked to take down a food pantry at her home.

Dawn Allen has kept a food pantry outside her home in Leland for over two years offering toiletries, hygiene products and food.

Last week, WWAY reported the food pantry was ransacked when she noticed the pantry was missing several items including personal property off her porch.

After the alleged robbery, the neighborhood HOA asked Allen to take the food pantry down immediately.

Allen said the HOA claimed the food pantry was operating as a business and is a improper use of structure.
“I’m really confused as to why this is a problem now because I’ve had this running for over two years and I’ve never received any kind of written anything from anybody over the years,” Allen said.

WWAY reached out to the Windermere HOA board and the board initially offered a comment but later rescinded the statement.