Don't mess with Peggy Lake. She's a woman on a mission.

Peggy is committed to empowering people who are living in poverty -- people like her. She is also committed to empowering people who are living with mental illness -- people like her.

Peggy's goal is to nurture self-confidence and self-sufficiency or at least to encourage people in need to turn to one another for help instead of counting on various agencies or the government.

"Peggy is a hands on, real, very honest, straight forward person who is committed to helping others," Bill Preston said when nominating her.

Eight years ago, when her son Benjamin was born, a friend gave Peggy all the baby clothes she needed. When Benjamin outgrew them, she, in turn, passed them on and the idea for the Children's Clothes Exchange - a FREE service, now a registered charity, came to life in Peggy Lake's home.

Soon adult clothing was added to the selection available and then, furniture. Storage became a definite problem.

Next the operation expanded into the downstairs apartment and soon after, the landlord donated the attic area ... but the need for space continues to grow.

Last August, disappointed with a number of things that happened and in need of a break, Lake closed her operation.

She spent more time with her children, did a lot of thinking and planning, worked on some renovation and painting projects, and became chair of the Georgia Avenue Community School Lice Patrol (more about that later).

Rejuvenated after an eight month "rest," Peggy reopened April 12.

One of the first priorities will be to find someone who will donate the 5,000 square foot space required for her operation to continue growing.

There's also need for a vehicle to pick up and drop off clothing and furniture.

There's no doubt that Peggy Lake has accomplished a lot, especially when you know that she has had to overcome mental illness.

Lake was diagnosed as manic-depressive at the age of 17 and, although appropriate medication and a good psychologist have made the difference for her, she still survives on a disability pension.

"I am mentally ill," she said, "but I've learned that if you accept your illness, listen to your doctor, take your medication, avoid as much stress as possible and do something with your life, you can make it."

The first thing Peggy did when she took over as chair of the "Lice Patrol" was to organize a contest for the students encouraging them to research the facts about lice and to draw pictures of them.

The contest went a long way toward stopping kids from teasing one another about lice. "It's just a simple problem that needs to be handled," she says, "and it has nothing to do with being clean or dirty. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

So why isn't this woman, a human dynamo, working at a paid job?

"I've talked to my doctor," she says, "and we both agree that once my children have grown and gone, I should be able to take a job working for someone else but right now, I need to be in control. I need to be able to close down and take time for me if I need it."

There's no doubt the strategy is working for Peggy Lake and there's also no doubt that Peggy Lake is working for the community.

"The best feeling anybody in the world can possibly have is giving of yourself," Peggy told me as I left. "That's all there is. If we all gave of ourselves, the world would be a happier place."

The Children's Clothes Exchange is at 697 Bruce Street in Nanaimo.