BEAVERTON, Ore. (KATU) — In this week’s Everyday Hero, we meet a busy Oregon mom whose business, like so many, took a hit during the pandemic.

When Rathana Soenneker couldn’t serve her customers, she turned that into an opportunity to support those in her community through tough times.

Growing up, her mother owned a restaurant in her hometown of St. Helens, and Rathana has been cooking since she was a little girl.

“My mom's ... [family] were one of the first Cambodian Americans to step foot in America, up in Washington, in Puyallup,” she said.

In 2017, Rathana decided to continue her family’s tradition by launching her own catering business. Her business did well for a few years, but then came 2020 and the pandemic.

"I couldn’t do events anymore. Everything had to pause. Life paused. I thought, what can I do for the community -- let some light into what’s happening right now,” she said. “I have three freezers full of food, and I said, you know, I might as well feed people.”

She packed up some meals and fed teachers, volunteers at COVID testing sites, families in need, workers at grocery stores – basically, anyone she came across who would appreciate a good meal.

Rathana thinks she fed roughly 3,500 people during the pandemic.

It’s her way of giving back. That connection to her larger community, along with the support of family and friends, helped her through difficult times.

“I am in remission for all three things. I had melanoma and Stage 3 thyroid cancer and brain tumor. I get checked up a lot,” she said.

Along with her love for cooking, Rathana is passing along her passion for giving to the next generation.

“They’re very smart kids. I always tell them, use your powers for good because what you do can make a difference even if it’s just one person,” she said.

And she knows that helping others is good for the soul.

“When you are giving, you are constantly receiving a lot of love, and that’s the best part of it -- you see people connect in that moment of happiness,” she said.

Rathana originally planned to become a teacher after college but eventually realized her enthusiasm for food and creating special dishes was where her heart was.