Authorities say Lee Parker and a friend contacted police after finding the bag near the Elizabeth train station. Federal investigators say the bag was left by New York-region bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami.
Parker says he realized something was wrong with the heavy backpack after seeing wires.
Story continues below advertisement
Linda Flores-Tober, executive director of the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, says she is glad Parker is being recognized. The group is putting Parker up in a hotel and an online fundraising campaign has raised thousands for him and a friend.
Parker says all he wants is a good job.
WATCH: The mayor of Elizabeth, NJ Chris Bollwage, tells media they believe two homeless men found a backpack containing a wire and a pipe around 8 pm on Saturday night. They promptly turned the backpack into police.