Oakland Food Pantry’s efforts drew more refugees and immigrants to the pantry. High food prices and the end of pandemic-era food benefits are driving demand, too. Nearly 2,800 people used the pantry in the last fiscal year — up 77% from fiscal 2022, bringing more traffic to the neighborhood and generating backlash.
Author Archives: Venuri Siriwardane
Venuri Siriwardane is a health reporter for PublicSource, with a focus
on mental health. She comes to PublicSource through the Staunton Farm
Mental Health Reporting Fellowship.
Venuri has a dual background in journalism and social science
research. As a reporter, she’s covered tech and business for Inc.
magazine and The Star-Ledger in New Jersey. As a researcher, she’s
studied the California DMV’s treatment of undocumented people. She
holds a master’s degree in politics and communication from The London
School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple
University. She loves playing tennis and reading about South Asian
history and politics. Contact: venuri@publicsource.org.
