Donations mount for homeless man Glen James, who found and returned $42,000

(CBS) BOSTON - First, Boston homeless man Glen James found a bag containing a passport, cash and travelers checks worth more than $42,000, and returned it - all of it - to police.

Monday, the city's police department honored James for his honesty.

Now, a Virginia man has helped raised nearly $100,000 for the homeless hero, according to CBS Boston.

Ethan Withington heard James' story and set up a fund on the internet fundraising website Go Fund Me.

CBS Boston reports his goal is to raise $250,000 so James can buy a house.

"When you hear stories like that it's something positive compared to the negative stories we're inundated with on a constant basis," Withington said. "It's hard to not want to help somebody. I want to make a positive impact on his life, not just hand him a $50,000 check."

The goal was to raise $50,000 but in one day, the site exceeded that goal and so a new goal was set.

The fundraising drive has so far garnered at least $88, 000 in contributions.

"I had no idea it would get as big as it has," Withington told CBS Boston.

"After all the stuff you hear on the news, you wonder about people," Withington said. "If we can get more people to do this we could completely change the world one person at a time."

Complete coverage of "homeless hero" Glen James on Crimesider