Area residents recently gathered at the Richmond Hill City Center for the inaugural SD Gunner Fund Veteran’s Day Fundraiser.

Robert Mock, the president of the Richmond Hill Exchange Club, was the emcee. Fund founder Britnee Kinard spoke about her family experiences of dealing with her husband’s post-traumatic stress disorder and son’s autism.

The SD Gunner Fund is a nonprofit organization created by the Kinard family to assist veterans and disabled children with the financial expense of owning service animals. At this event, more than 60 people who attended were moved by the presentation and videos that demonstrated the benefits of service animals to handicapped veterans and children with special needs.

Kinard said she was delighted with the $1,300 raised for the fund.

“If it wasn’t for faithful supporters, we wouldn’t exist,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who attended or supported today for helping us make a difference in the lives of our veterans, our children and their families who struggle with physical and mental disabilities right here in our own community. A special thank-you to our sponsors; Early Autism Project, Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy and NeSmith Chevrolet.”

Donations are tax deductible. For more information on SD Gunner fund go to www.sdgunnerfund.com