The wounded warrior caregiver support group, “Hearts of Valor,” held its first meeting Tuesday, Aug. 15 at the Richmond Hill Public Library.

For the past few years, SD Gunner Fund has focused on assisting veterans and disabled children with the financial expense of owning a much-needed service dog. A military caregiving group is an endeavor SD Gunner Fund President and founder Britnee Kinard has hoped for in the Savannah area for quite some time. Now, thanks in part to a partnership with Operation Homefront, that vision has come to fruition. As the certified Hearts of Valor support group leader, Kinard will conduct monthly meetings for the caregiving community within Savannah, Richmond Hill and the surrounding areas.

“Caregiving is part of what I do every day and I am so thankful for the core group of people who support my family and me, which is why I am so eager to get the ‘Hearts of Valor’ support group rolling,” Kinard said. “It will be a great opportunity for military caregivers to come together with a like-minded mission and I look forward to the value each member will bring to the group.”

Meetings will give an opportunity for peer-to-peer networking among caregivers, as well as resources for self-healing, financial planning and dealing with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. Meetings will take place monthly and are already set to follow the initial meeting in August for September 19 and October 17.  Some months will be an outing focused on giving caregivers some time outside of their homes.