Taking some initiative to learn a skill paid off for a Farrell woman and her family who will receive a Habitat for Humanity House in Sharon.

About a year and a half ago Ramona Peagler said she felt depressed and wanted to get out of the house, so she went to the Keystone SMILES program offered through Mercer County Housing Authority.

"I went down there with an attitude," the Steel City Terrace resident admitted.

After she was there for awhile her attitude changed. She said she met Libby Hansford -- a community service, learning and skills trainer and coordinator -- who helped excite her about the program.

"He told me, 'Give yourself a chance,' " Ms. Peagler said.

Keystone SMILES, based in Knox, Clarion County, is a service learning organization that teaches people home maintenance skills from carpentry to electrical work. Hansford said the program helps adult students take another step toward achieving their goals and gaining new, useful skills.

The Mercer County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity agreed to work with Keystone SMILES and allow students to practice their skills on Habitat homes, Hansford said. "It's a beautiful marriage," he said.

Not long after completing the training courses, Ms. Peagler applied to receive a Habitat house and was chosen.

"I was shocked," she said. "Even now I still can't believe it. All these years I've always wanted a home."

She said her two children, Shar-Dai, 16, and Eric, 13, are excited about the impending move too.

"She put herself in the position to be chosen. I'm here to support Ramona as a student," Hansford said.

Work began in May on the house at 259 Prospect St. that was donated to Habitat for Humanity, said Bill Good, a construction volunteer. The entire home had to be gutted, and it needed new siding and a porch roof, Good said.

The family is required to put in 500 hours of work on their house, something Ms. Peagler said she and her daughter have been doing on Saturdays. Eric is too young to work on the home, she said.

"It's working with the families that's a real joy," Good said. "It makes you feel wonderful."

Ms. Peagler said she's appreciative of all the volunteer work put into her future home.

"I'm happy every time somebody comes. I make sure that I let them know that I'm very grateful -- that's like the best blessing you can get. There are still nice people in this world," she said.

She also thinks highly of Hansford and the Keystone SMILES program.

"It's worth it," she said. "He (Hansford) knows what he's talking about. He has a knack for bringing out the best in people. He's just one of those people that just spreads sunshine all over the place."

Ms. Peagler said there were many times when she nearly left the program but Hansford "uplifted me in a way that's hard to explain. Now I'm getting a home out of it because I stuck with it."

The completion date of the home isn't set yet, Good said.