George Zimmerman Trial: Defense fund up $77K in one week for man accused of murdering Trayvon Martin

(CBS/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - George Zimmerman's defense fund has raised over $77,000 in the past week through "a handful of large donations," according to a post Wednesday on the fund's website.

PICTURES: George Zimmerman faces murder charge

The site says the donations will go towards paying off outstanding liabilities in excess of $20,000, and to pay for deposition transcripts and securing experts for Zimmerman's murder trial, which is scheduled to begin with jury selection on Monday.

Last week, Zimmerman's defenders claimed the fund had less than $5,000 left.  Zimmerman's defense team said they calculated that another $120,000 was needed to put on a good defense,  or just another $75,000 to even give him a fighting chance.

The defense team says they expect additional operating expenses and increased security expenses during the trial.

Zimmerman's attorneys Mark O'Mara and Don West said they hadn't been paid a cent and that many interns were working on the case without pay.

"The support we have received in the last week has given us hope that we will be able to meet our goal of $120,000," Wednesday's post on the fund's website reads.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the February 2012 fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. He is pleading not guilty.

Complete coverage of the Trayvon Martin case on Crimesider