An Arizona woman accused of going for a job interview while her two young children sat in a hot vehicle has pleaded not guilty to two felony child abuse charges on Monday, court officials said.

In a case that has garnered nationwide attention, people have rallied to Shanesha Taylor's defense by raising more than $91,000 in Internet donations for the 35-year-old mother, Reuters reported.

During a brief arraignment in Maricopa County Superior Court, Taylor made the plea.

As Taylor went to attend an interview for an insurance company job, she left her two children, ages 2 and 6 months, in a parked car last month, sweating profusely and in apparent distress. When the children were discovered by police, Taylor was charged with two counts of child abuse.

"The children were found buckled into their seat belts in the vehicle's back seat with temperatures exceeding 100 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), document stated," Reuters reported.

According to CBS affiliate KHOU, Taylor returned to the car an hour after her interview time.

As she didn't have anyone to watch her children, she had to leave them in the car in order to finish the job interview, Taylor told authorities.

"She was upset. This is a sad situation all around. She said she was homeless. She needed the job. Obviously, not getting the job. So it's just a sad situation," said Scottsdale Police Sgt. Mark Clark, according to the station.

"Taylor's case made national news with the release of her jail mugshot, a heart-wrenching picture of the woman with tears in her eyes," Reuters reported.

After a website for donations was set up by a New Jersey woman, loads of contributions started being made after the incident made headlines on March 20.

County Attorney Bill Montgomery said it's too early to determine if Taylor will receive a prison term or face losing custody of her children, the Associated Press reported.