Cinda moved to Hemlock in 1989, where her children were born and raised in the same home she and her family have lived in for 34 years. Married to her husband Bob for 18 years, Cinda’s journey is one of dedication and adaptability.
In the early '90s, Cinda ran a small pastry business, but as it grew too big for her mom-life, she set it aside. She then spent 40 years in the healthcare and financial industries until she was downsized at 59. Faced with this challenge, she turned back to her passion for baking, booking events and weddings, and working part-time at Chandlers while also subbing as a bus driver for two years. Cinda's Pastries was poised for a successful year, with her 2020 calendar filling up with exciting opportunities, when the pandemic hit, canceling all her events.
Delivering a macaron order to Kelsey Leigh Poscal for a St. Patrick’s Day open house on March 17th, 2020, Cinda learned about the bread shortages facing many, including Kelsey’s grandparents. “I remember praying, ‘God, I have no idea what you're doing with this world right now, but I know that trusting you is what will get us through and give us peace. You have to help me see what you want us to do through all of this,’” Cinda recalls. And unsurprisingly, she found blessings amid the chaos.
With plenty of baking ingredients on hand, despite grocery store shelves being bare, Cinda offered to bake bread for those in need. Word spread, and soon her driveway became a bustling hub for artisan bread and pastries. What began as a way to help neighbors quickly turned into a thriving business.
“We had to see the humor in it—who would have ever thought we’d be selling bread out of our driveway!” Cinda laughs. Despite the initial scarcity that fueled the bread business, demand remains steady, and Cinda continues to expand her menu, driven by faith and community support.
Between the gourmet cupcakes, cheesecakes, macarons and drool-worthy CindaBuns, and her fun artisan bread Bake & Take classes, Hemlock is a whole lot sweeter because of Cinda Marks, whose story of perseverance and generosity inspires us all. Her ability to turn challenges into opportunities has brought joy and delicious treats to many, keeping us #HemlockStrong.
#BetterTogether #HumansOfHemlock