On Sept. 23, the chapel service at Holland (Mich.) Christian High School brought Hurricane Katrina into sharp focus. The service opened with slides showing the devastated neighborhood of the school’s newest student, Katrina evacuee Kandice Lonadier.
Lonadier, 16, who began attending Holland Christian on Sept. 14, spoke at the chapel. She recounted standing at the front door of her home in Picayune, Miss., watching the hurricane destroy her community. “Anything that meant anything to me is gone,” said Lonadier.
Lonadier and her family stayed in their roofless home for two weeks. For five days after the hurricane her family had nothing to eat until MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) arrived.
Lonadier and her parents have been longtime friends with a Holland Christian family. The Holland family’s daughter invited Kandice to stay with them and attend Holland Christian High School (which waived her tuition) until she returns home to join her parents and brother.
