ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jaylena Granito is hard at work sowing. No, this is not a home economics assignment. It's her job, but it didn't start out that way.

“COVID started, so I started making masks for my mom at work and after that people started asking for some too," said Granito.

What You Need To Know

  • Jaylena Granito started making masks last year

  • Her mom is one of the biggest supporters of her business 

  • She has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

Even with the pandemic going on for almost a year now, people are still requesting her products.

“It was supposed to be for a while like something to do over the summer, so I wasn’t bored. But school started up, so we still needed masks, so I started making masks them for work and for my brother when he went places and kept doing it," said Granito.

Granito's mom, Melisha Little, is one of the biggest supporters of her business venture. Granito calls her business JLG, which are her initials. Her mom keeps a record of all of her sales.

“I helped her gather fabrics and anything she needed and started her business making masks," said Little.

Granito has her own Instagram page and has gotten really creative with some of her products.

“People ask me like specific things that they want like certain jewels on it or made out of certain material. Some people buy their own material and give it to me, so it’s very unique," said Granito.

Granito is a well-rounded 17 year old. She helps her mom cook on a regular basis and has a part-time job at Marshall’s.

“She helps buy dinner sometimes, which I’m very proud of her for. Sometimes you know, she knows I don’t feel like cooking and she wants something good to eat, so she offers to buy for the family," said Little.

And for Granito, she has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

"Yeah as long as people still need them. I plan on making them as long as possible," said Granito.