SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A local business in Springfield is celebrating a milestone. SouLaou'd Kitchen celebrated their 5-year anniversary Friday. The establishment is the first and only Lao restaurant in western Massachusetts. Part of their sales were donated to the 'Follow My Steps Foundation,' which helps children in under-resourced communities. Through their Southeast Asian cuisine, the family business hopes to continue sharing their culture with the city of Springfield. "I've got chills and it is not because of the cold it's because we are still here and our community who loves and supports us so much making sure that we survived and that we made it through covid," says Lena Redd, Co-Owner of SouLao'd Kitchen. The co-owner says her mom's recipes they cook in their kitchen are more than 50 years old.she also encourages small business owners to be persistent and ask for help when needed. Local News Headlines Holiday craft fair Sunday at Gary Rome Hyundai Annual ‘Chilly Challenge’ in Amherst raises money for sexual assault support Community Thanksgiving dinner held at Boys and Girls Club in Springfield Rising costs add stress to holiday shopping and dinners WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.