THOROFARE, N.J. (CBS) - In this economy, local food banks are being pressed to the limit. Today, a New Jersey official took time out to visit one of them — a mobile facility, making a stop in Gloucester County.

New Jersey agriculture secretary Doug Fisher took in the work being done on the Hope Mobile, an 18-wheeler run by the Food Bank of South Jersey that was making a delivery to a church in Thorofare.

Over the last couple of years, he says, demand for such services has doubled.

“You’ll hear stories where people just lost their job and this makes the difference between making ends meet and not,” Fisher told KYW Newsradio.

Fortunately, at least for now, donations of cash and foodstuffs have met the need.

While the state is kicking in $7 million over the next year to assist agencies like this statewide, the need is still there.  Fisher’s concern is that during the summertime,  people might forget that, even though some 21,000 families in South Jersey avail themselves of the assistance.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060