You might say Lynn Elko's business is cleaning up.
The Hometown woman began making soaps as thank-you gifts, and now that hobby has turned into a company that employs people with disabilities.
Emma's Friends, named for Lynn and Don Elko's 10-year-old daughter, produces a full line of hand-cut bar soaps, lip balms, lotions, creams and bath soaps, and even a line of pet products.
Lynn said she started making soaps for Emma's teachers and therapists.
"Our daughter, Emma, was born with multiple disabilities. We have had a lot of people come alongside us. It was just our way of thanking them," Lynn said. "I had been baking gifts for everybody. I was doing it at the last minute, so everything could be fresh, so I was up at all hours."
Lynn thought there had to be something easier she could make in advance.
"I was in the checkout line one day ... in a Martha Stewart magazine, there was an article about making soaps," she said.
The article gave her the idea, but the soap in the article was made with a pre-fabricated base that was added to scents.
"To make true soap you start with lye and oils," Lynn said. "I spent about a year and a half researching the different properties of oils and how they combine. I developed my soap formulas and started making soap and testing it with friends and family, until I developed my set of five formulas that I use."
The idea for the business came when Lynn served on the board of directors of Avenues.
"In that capacity (on the board of Avenues), I had my first opportunity to see the type of work people with disabilities are given," Lynn said. "The economy had started to fall, and we (Avenues) were losing work in our workshops. There was a lot of concern there wasn't enough work for them.
"I said to my husband, 'we'll make a company and we'll employ them.' "
Lynn cooks, or makes, the soaps in her "soap kitchen" in her home, and 12 Avenues employees at Emma's Friends help her do all the rest.
"The whole idea behind Emma's Friends is to creatively employ individuals with special needs," Lynn said. "We have 12 individuals who wrap and package soaps, and make dry goods, bottle and label them. The 12 come out of a pool of 40 at Avenues' sheltered workshop in Pottsville."
Emma's Friends has a small store inside Covenant Abstracts at 32 W. Broad St., West Hazleton, which is owned and operated by Don Elko.
Lynn also takes the products on the road, with Don's help.
"I help her set up and break down at trade shows," Don said. "I help her at the shows. I'm usually on the cash register. The rest of the time, I deliver."
Lynn said they supply Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort with all of their guestroom amenities.
"(Guests) get two little bars of soap, and 1-ounce lotion and 1-ounce shampoo for every room," she said.
Emma's Friends also produces favors for bridal showers, baby showers and weddings.
They are members of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild, along with thousands of others.
"We were selected to represent them at American Craft Retail Expo in Orlando in January," Lynn said. "We were one of three soapmakers chosen from thousands of members."
You can learn more about the products at www.emmasfriends.com.