The borough's second food bank has opened in Cudworth, offering a helping hand to those struggling to make ends meet.
Based at Cudworth library, it provides simple food parcels containing things like tinned meat, fruit, cereals and pasta to people who have been given a voucher from referring organisations and individuals such as local councillors, schools, health workers and Berneslai Homes.
Both Fr David Nicholson of St John The Baptist Church, Cudworth and Cudworth councillor Joe Hayward, have been involved in starting up the programme.
Coun Hayward said a few people visited on its opening day but he is expecting more people to attend once it becomes established.
Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher also came along for the opening.
Sam Hearne, 38, came to the food bank with his one-year-old daughter, Ellie.
He said he has three daughters, two of whom stay with him, three or four days a week.
As he lives in a two-bedroom flat in Cudworth, he says he has to pay the bedroom tax for his spare bedroom.
He receives about £70 in benefits per week but has only £30 a week left to pay for things such as food, bus and train fares.
He said he was 'a bit embarrassed' to come to the food bank and his 'pride was dented' but it was important to help feed his family.
"It's OK spending thousands on parks and making things look nice but it's no good if kids are hungry," he said.
Bernadette Woodhouse, 57, also came for help.
She receives Job Seeker's Allowance and has had to pay £10 per week in bedroom tax because of a spare bedroom in her two-bedroom Cudworth flat.
She said she read about the food bank in The Chronicle.
"It's good to have the support but there shouldn't be any food banks," Bernadette said.
She added the bedroom tax has made things more difficult and she has been able to claim discretionary housing payments to hold off payments until
November.
Donations to the food bank can be made at Grimethorpe Asda, Shafton ALC, as well as Cudworth shops and Cudworth primary schools.
It is open today from 3pm to 5pm.
