'Let's Get This Man a House;' More Than 60K Raised in One Day in Campaign to Get House for Homeless Man Who Returned 42K
After shattering a $50,000 goal in donations to reward homeless Boston man Glen James for returning a lost backpack with more than $42,000 in it, a gofundme.com campaign has extended its goal to $250,000 to get the honest man a house.
"Good morning everyone! Great coverage on the story so far! Thank you all so much. YOU are the reason this is happening. Now, let's get this man a house!!" wrote Ethan Whittington, organizer of the gofundme campaign seeking to get James a house.
Some 2,451 people donated $63,724 in the first 24 hours since the campaign was launched by Whittington on Monday.
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Since then, donations have continued to pour in for James from people all across America inspired by his heartwarming honesty.
"Even if I were desperate for money, I would not have kept even a ... penny of the money I found. I am extremely religious — God has always very well looked after me," James wrote in a statement noted in an earlier report about his honesty which he said made him feel "very, very good."
"I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone — every pedestrian stranger — who has given me spare change. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" he added.
As news spread about his honest deed, however, it is Americans who have been thanking the shy and stuttering James by donating money, and leaving behind warm words about his story and how it affected them on the campaign page.
"This is the right attitude of Americans, even if he is a homeless, who returns the found money! We are proud of his honesty, understanding, openness, character and right principles of life. Wish him all the best and [hope he] lands in a good job soon," wrote Ram Ramachandran.
"Glen James gave all of us an opportunity to see how great the world can be. He inspired all of us by his honesty in the face of extreme adversity. He also gave all of us an opportunity to show how great, we as a community can be. Kudos to all of us for being a part of this fundraising effort - to reward a hero - and to show that sometimes, what goes around comes around," wrote Sha Khan.
