MORE donation drop-off points were opened this week as part of a borough-wide appeal to help Ukrainians started by a Pogmoor man.
The collection was initiated by Henryk Matysiak, of Hunters Avenue, and has since grown to be made up of hundreds of volunteers.
All donations collected are being sorted and driven to Poland - where Henryk has family links - for Ukrainian refugees who have fled there.
One new collection hub was opened up at St John the Baptist Church in Penistone on Tuesday.
The church has been decorated in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine, but a spokesperson said to have ‘something practical’ being done there now is lovely to see.
Julie Rhodes, a volunteer coordinator for the new Penistone drop-off, said: “We knew Penistone was a little bit out of the way of the rest of Barnsley - so we thought having somewhere close for people to drop off would be good.
“Father David Hopson, the vicar, very kindly agreed for us to use the church as a drop-off centre.
“We want to avoid the church being inundated with donations, so we do ask that things are dropped off only by prior arrangement.
“It’s absolutely lovely to see it all happening - we’ve had so many donations already.”
The church had received more than 100 boxes of donations in less than one day after opening on Tuesday.
For now, Henryk’s contacts in Poland have said the Ukrainian refugees have more than enough adult clothing, but are still in need of other products including baby and children’s clothes, personal hygiene products, food, baby milk, blankets and sleeping bags.
Anyone wanting to donate at the Penistone site should call the coordinators on 07488 290712 for Mark Attard, or 07949 027406 for Julie Rhodes, to arrange to drop-off.
