The Student Nurses Association presented a check for $480 at its Thursday afternoon meeting to a Harris School of Nursing alumna who housed Hurricane Katrina evacuees.Nelrica Kendrick had 18 to 22 relatives in her Fort Worth home after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

Originally, 18 family members were living with Kendrick and her children. The number reached 22 when she picked up her sister and her family, who was missing temporarily, in Mississippi.

“It was tough, but it had to be done,” she said.

Kendrick called the Harris School of Nursing to find out if anything could be done to help her.

“There are programs to help the victims,” Kendrick said. “But there are not any programs to help those who are housing the evacuees.”

The Harris School of Nursing contacted SNA about Kendrick, said Janelle Jones, secretary of SNA.

Grace Moore, the president of SNA, said the association gave money to Kendrick because her needs were so diverse. Her family came to the Fort Worth area with nothing, and instead of giving her specific items, SNA gave her money.

“I cannot begin to thank people enough,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick was the only person in her family to graduate high school and college.

She said she sees the situation as a “blessing in disguise” because her relatives got an opportunity to start over with a clean slate.

One of her brothers, 26, is in the GED program and has a job, she said.

All but one family of Kendrick’s relatives have a place to live in the Fort Worth area.