Schuler, of Hernando Beach, had tried all the means she knew, visiting the Career Central job assistance site, scouring the Internet for jobs and applying for jobs at places around town such as Target, Publix and McDonald's. No leads turned into work.

But there was one more thing she could do.

"I'm going to turn my car into a billboard," she said.

Slowly her phone began to ring. A reporter called and wrote a story. Community members began contacting Schuler with presents, gift cards and cash donations. Some were anonymous; others came with hugs.

Schuler was grateful, knowing that each gift kept her family afloat a little longer.

But only one thing would keep them going long term: a job of her own.

Then Dave Johnson saw Schuler's story in the Times and called her. He was impressed with her initiative.

"It showed she really wanted to do something," he said.

One interview later, Schuler had a job.

Located in the Hernando County Airport Industrial Park, Accuform manufactures a variety of products, including traffic, roadway and safety signs, as well as cable and electrical wire and identification tags.

Schuler isn't sure yet what she will do for the company, but she is determined to make a good impression.

On Monday, she drove to work for the first time, the windows of her 2003 white Ford Windstar sparkling clean.

Read the online article here.

Shary Lyssy Marshall can be reached at slmarshall.sptimes@gmail.com.