Save Protect Gets a Facelift

  by Rachel Dahl —  During this holiday season, we all try to be a little more giving and a little more helpful. Johnny Larkins works all year to bring relieve to those in need. Larkin was named Citizen of the Year by the Fallon Elks earlier this year for his work to help Veterans and families. He serves all of Northern Nevada, and he raises money to do that by setting up his booth outside of local grocery stores to collect money for disabled/homeless veterans, and families in need. The company is Save Protect. Billy Thompson of Lumegent, saw Johnny one day outside the Fallon Walmart and struck up a conversation, curious about Larkins’ organization. When he realized how dedicated and serious the effort is, and heard Larkins’ story, Thompson jumped in to help, throwing the resources of Lumegent behind Save Protect. The day Larkins’ daughter turned 13 years old, she was raped coming home from school, outside her apartment building. A neighbor asked her what she was doing home and when she said it was her birthday, he hugged her and then drug her to a dumpster and raped her, leaving her lying there on the ground. Sometime later, according to Larkins, “a homeless guy came through digging through the dumpster and found her.” He helped her get into the house and tried to get her to call the police, but she was scared. Larkins says the homeless man told her no one was going to hurt her anymore, he “was a Marine for 17 years and nobody’s going to bother you anymore.” He waited with her until the police got there. When Larkins got to his daughter, was able to spend time with her and then he went looking for the man who had helped her. He went to the park where the homeless “lived” and saw with a whole new view. “He fought for our country,” said Larkins, “and I‘m looking down on these guys. I found him and spent time talking to him and I said how can I get you off the street, what can I do to help.” He answered me shaking his head and said, “man, first of all, I’m here by choice. I feel so sad in my heart that I didn’t get there fast enough. When I saw that little girl crying on the side of the dumpster I knew what had happened. What bothered me the most is that these people living in these apartments heard a little girl screaming at three in the afternoon and no one came to help her. We fought wars to protect our children, this should never happen.” Larkins kept trying to find out what he could do to help, when the man said “I don’t need any help, but one thing you can do, see these guys here,” pointing to the other homeless men loitering in the park, “Some of these guys are having serious problems and they’re not out here by choice. During the holidays we can get anything we need, money, food, but during the rest of the year we suffer. They have dogs, these dogs are family to them, they don’t pass judgement and they give them comfort and they’ll feed their dogs before they’ll feed themselves. You want to help me, help them.” “I went and got a few hundred dollars worth of stuff,” said Larkins, “and went around passing out food and blankets and talking to the men in that park and I realized what a horrible human being I’d been. How many times I had walked past them and never looked and pretend they’re not there. And one of them was the one who saw what happened to my daughter and involved himself and saved her.” Although Larkins never served in the military himself, he wanted to “do something good and show these guys that I appreciate what they’ve done for us.” He was able to find some people who helped him put together his charter to become a non-profit, and then began raising money and resources. Larkins’ story so moved Thompson that day, that he also wanted to do something to help. “His table and the set-up, and his materials and information, makes it look fake or untrustworthy,” said Thompson, “but it’s hard to take money and put it into marketing when that money could go to helping Veterans and families.” Thompson was able to produce a marketing campaign and materials that gives Larkins and Save Protect a beautiful, modern and professional look. During this holiday season, Larkins is out with his new booth spreading the message of service and compassion. He can be contacted at [email protected].     Never miss the local news — read more on The Fallon Post home page. If you enjoy The Fallon Post, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and make a contribution today.  Your contribution makes possible this online news source for all things Fallon.