On Friday, the Moose Jaw Families for Change celebrated their 15th anniversary with a family barbeque. By the first hour, they had already cooked and given away 250 hotdogs, bringing in people from all over the city to check out their facility, and even just get a free lunch.

Katie Statler, Community Co-ordinator of Moose Jaw Families for Change, explained how their organization functions in Moose Jaw.

"So Moose Jaw Families for Change is a local non-profit organization, we support folks with varying abilities. We have three group homes and an independent living program which we support a total of 14 individuals in, and then we also have the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre, which is where we do all our community programming, so we offer daytime, evening, and weekend support for folks with varying abilities."

Statler went on to explain the origin and the journey of MJFFC over their decade and a half of operation, as it has changed over the years but never strayed from its mission.

"So it's changed a lot in the 15 years, just a little backstory. Three families came together just about 15-17 years ago, and they were seeking different opportunities for their adult children with disabilities, and they wanted to create some residential opportunities, so they started their very own first group home in partner with SIAST and the Telemiracle Foundation, built the first group home. So from there, they've expanded throughout the 15 years. Their legacy, or their mission, was to have exactly what we have here at the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre, so this is kind of carrying out their legacy and growing as an agency over that 15 years, from that first conversation to where we are today."

Statler went on to say that their current goals, apart from fully settling into the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre, is to spread more awareness for those with varying abilities and to break down barriers, prejudice and misunderstanding wherever they can in the community. They're open Monday to Friday, and invite anyone interested in learning more to come on down, or visit their facebook page, where you can learn more about their upcoming events.