PORTLAND, Oregon — The need for food is growing for seniors across the Northwest during Thanksgiving week.

The Oregon Food Bank says nearly one in seven seniors in the state experience food insecurity.

Social workers say many older adults feel uncomfortable asking for help.

At the Center for Positive Aging in Portland, staff have turned “food pantry day” into a social lunch for seniors.

“You come in, you're welcome. You eat lunch if you want to, you can get food if you want to,” said Mel Bain of Portland.

Bain has been attending the lunches and picking up groceries for his apartment for two years.

“I didn't know anybody, and I didn't do anything. My whole life was in that apartment,” he said. “So I started coming over here because you're not supposed to be alone all the time.”

He sa

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