Making ends meet
Truro woman shares her story of battling to make ends meet
Sherry Kinslow can speak from experience when she tells of raising a family of four and doing it while in the throes of poverty.
When Sherry Kinslow’s children were young they spent one Christmas with a bucket next to their tree, catching water from a leaky roof.
But there was no question of them moving; they were in one of the few Truro apartments they could a ord.
Kinslow shared her story of raising four children in poverty when she spoke at the Colchester Anti-poverty Network’s 20th anniversary gathering Nov. 20.
“There’s a lot of stigma attached to being low income,” she said. “We wanted the best in life for our kids and we were just struggling to survive. It was hard, humiliating, depressing, stressful, sad and, at times, lonely.”
She’s always been a person who tried to keep her bills paid, and when she had to ask for social assistance she was embarrassed. To make matters worse, she found her case worker unpleasant and felt she was looking down on her.
“I often had to make the choice between buying extra groceries and taking a cab home,” she said. “I would sometimes end up walking up the hill with my groceries and four children.
“I was raising my kids on my own, nancially, physically and mentally. I know what it’s like to go to the food bank and the Christmas Index program, and it’s not good.”
She was thrilled when she discovered Maggie’s Place.
“It was a non-judgmental, caring haven where I could learn new parenting skills. I could socialize and bond with other parents.”
Kinslow took part in several programs and helped set up a seniors and tots reading circle. She also took part in a meeting about ghting poverty.
“We felt there was a gap between families who were in crisis situations and the services they needed to access for help,” she said. “We wanted to build a bridge that would connect the two. We came up with the lowincome survival guide, listing services and places that provided help.”
Working on the guide boosted her self-esteem, and she became the rst secretary for the Colchester Anti-poverty Network.
Kinslow worked at a secondhand clothing store for 15 years, usually walking to get there.
“I often wished I had a car to go to work, and to take the kids to the beach in the summer,” she recalled.
She was struggling with bromyalgia. Seeking work that was easier on her body, she took a business administration course at the NSCC. She graduated in 2015, but the following winter, she was feeling worse, and in June 2016 she had a heart attack.
“I think mindset plays a large role in how you survive,” she said. “You need to be positive, but it takes a lot of inner strength.”
Kinslow learned about subsidized housing, and earlier this year she was able to nd a subsidized apartment. She still doesn’t have much money left after her bills are paid, but she budgets carefully and is able to run a car she says is “old, but t to drive.” She doesn’t know if she’ll be able to afford another one once it gives out.
“Friends and family sometimes treat me to a meal out, and I’ve been given some nice hand-medowns.
“I’ve gone to the meals at Kane’s Kitchen. ey’re nice but it’s always packed there. I also went to the Christmas dinner at the Truro Farmers’ Market last year. e volunteers in this community are wonderful with things like this.”
Kinslow said she sees many people struggling because of the lack of a ordable housing, and the high cost of groceries and other necessities of day to day life.
“I don’t have the answer,” she added. “Try to make the best decisions possible and focus on priorities. Take time for yourself, too.
“Community is essential. Talk, talk, talk, because someone out there may hear you and share information you can use.
“I am a survivor. I will survive, but the struggle is real.”