Making, designing masks helps area businesses

Like many small businesses, the coronavirus pandemic took a toll on art therapy and painting party business Sip N Silk in Forty Fort but it led owner Cherie Cruz and her assistants to start something new.

When government officials started requiring masks to reduce the spread of coronavirus, Cruz and her assistants decided to make and sell tie dyed, marbled and hand-painted masks. This has provided Cruz a new lifeline and helped meet a demand.

“It’s definitely a needed service,” she said. “It’s a source of income for us while we are pretty much shut down and working on the masks keeps me busy.”

The extra income is helpful after Sip N Silk was shut down from mid-March until Luzerne County entered the green phase in June.

Cruz said she hasn’t held any public events and she has only been able to hold small private parties and sell take-home art kits and masks.