By AJ Willingham
(CNN) — Remember Glen James, the homeless man who found a backpack stuffed with thousands of dollars in cash and traveler’s checks in a Boston-area mall? He returned it to police, who eventually found its rightful owner, and now karma is coming back around to reward him.
When word of his good deed spread, James started getting some serious recognition: The Boston Police Department issued him a special citation for his honesty, and a fund set up for him by a stranger has skyrocketed to more than $90,000. For those keeping score at home, that is more than double the $2,400 in cash and $36,500 in checks James returned.
The fund, set up on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe.com, was started by Ethan Whittington, an Alabama native. When Whittington heard about James’ story, he thought he could do something nice for the man and raise a few hundred dollars.
“Let’s all chip in and help this man change his life. Every little donation helps,” Whittington wrote on the page. “Let’s be reassured that there is still hope and humanity in our great nation.”
Much to his surprise, within the first 24 hours, strangers had kicked in more than $55,000. Now, that number has topped $90,000. All of that money will go to James, and the donations haven’t stopped pouring in yet.
As for James, he is overwhelmed, but has stressed that what he did wasn’t a good deed — it was just the right thing to do.
“There’s no way I could have kept even a penny of that money,” James told WHDH. “No way, no way.”
He and Whittington have spoken over the phone, and plan to meet sometime soon.
“I just want to thank you so much for being so kind,” James told Whittington during a phone call.
“Those donations will help me get a brand new start in life,” he told WHDH.
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