A feeding device for a yarn includes a storage drum to which yarn is fed tangentially by means of a winding drive. The yarn is stored in windings on the storage drum in a yarn reserve and can be withdrawn therefrom overhead. The feeding device also includes at least one optoelectronic yarn sensing device which is arranged in a stationary manner outside the storage drum and includes a light source arrangement, a signal-generating receiver arrangement and a light guide. The light source arrangement includes a light outlet which is oriented towards the storage drum, and the receiver arrangement is oriented towards a sensing region on the storage drum. The light guide includes an inlet which is directed outwardly towards the light outlet, and an outlet which is directed outwardly towards the receiver arrangement wherein the inlet and the outlet of the light guide are arranged in positions on the storage drum which are at least axially-spaced apart.