FORT MEYERS, Florida, May 1, 2008 (NBC) -- There were 177 people at a job fair in Fort Myers, Florida Wednesday, and not nearly enough jobs.

There were current students, recent grads, and even some seasoned professionals who all showed up for the career fair. But one job seeker managed to stand out from the crowds.

She's not even old enough to apply for any of the jobs.

Eight-year-old Alyssa Johnston was at the fair on her mother's behalf.

"I tell them she's in the hospital right now and she couldn't make it," said Alyssa. "She's been throwing up because of kidney stones."

Alyssa may be too young to understand the economy, but she still feels its effects.

"I have two cats and we're running out of cat food. One of them is going to die, I know it," said Alyssa.

Alyssa hitched a ride to the job fair with a friend and got to work by carefully collecting business cards for her mom, Jennifer Doumenis.

"I was in Cape Coral Hospital most of the day," said Doumenis when contacted after the job fair.

Doumenis had just heard the news that Alyssa was out job hunting for her.

"She says, 'Mommy, I was just interviewing somebody for you, about you,'" said Doumenis.

A widow and single mom, Doumenis says finding a job is tough enough, but she had no idea the burden fell on her daughter.

"It's almost hair-pulling frustrating. You don't want to bring your children into it because you're stressed. You don't want them to stress," said Doumenis.

Yet, she says it's hard not to be proud.

"Wouldn't that be great if she found you a job? It would be awesome. I'd put her on an even higher pedestal than she's already on with me," said Doumenis.