Elsie Garcia and her family just got the keys March 15 for the 100th home that Habitat for Humanity has built in the Lehigh Valley.

Garcia's home on James Street was the scene of an emotional ceremony when officials from Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley, the Bethlehem Garden Club, the Lehigh Valley Embroidery Guild and others officially gave her the keys and presented her with other mementos of lengthy building process.

She was accepted into the program in 2011 and has put 250 "sweat equity hours" into the project. Participants are only required to put 200 hours labor into their homes. Garcia's contribution was more than required.

"Since starting the program I have learned a lot about myself," said Garcia. "I learned to take criticism and that I have the ability to manage work, my personal life and completing my sweat equity hours. There were many times that I wanted to give up, but with the encouragement of wonderful people like Deb [Cummins, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley] and my mentor, Annette [Drobil, Family Mentor for Habitat], I was able to complete my hours."

"Without the staff, my mentor, and hard-working volunteers, my home would not be possible."

"It didn't come together magically but it's a minor miracle," said Garcia.

This home might have been a little more difficult than others. According to Construction Manager Joe Polizzotto the weather slowed things up considerably.

"We had to content with the weather," said Polizzotto. "We shoveled snow then we worked. The locks on the storage sheds froze every night."

Garcia's new home joins several other Habitat-built homes on James Street which runs high up on the ridge overlooking South Bethlehem. Garcia will live at the new home with her 11-year old son and 19-year old daughter.