Branford Lions Club past president John Wilkinson Sr.'s commitment to his community, scouting and Branford Troop 428 was exemplified and honored recently, when the Lions presented Troop 428 with a $500 donation in memory of Wilkinson, who passed away in September 2017.

A Branford resident and Lions member of 32 years, Wilkinson illustrated the Lion's motto "We Serve" in many ways, said Lions past president Stephen Burke.

As a Lion, Wilkinson received both the Knight of the Blind and Melvin Jones Fellow awards, the state's two highest honors. Wilkinson was an Eagle Scout with a lifelong commitment to supporting the mission of scouting. He served as a Committee Member of Troop 428 and helped formed a special bond between the troop and Branford Lions Club, said Burke.

Wilkinson also got involved with helping others through his church, St. Mary's of Branford, and often made other contributions on his own.

"One of the striking things is that he not only helped those that he knew, but he helped countless people he didn't and never would know," said Burke. "He'd buy bread with his own money and deliver it to shelters. He cooked hundreds of dinners for homeless men at Columbus House," in New Haven.

Branford Lions Club members felt the donation to Wilkinson's "beloved Troop 428," together with the club's offer to continue to be helping hand for Troop 428 in the future, is a fitting tribute to honor Wilkinson's memory, said Burke.

"He connected the Lions to Troop 428," said Burke. "After he passed, the club wanted to do something in his memory that would help the scouts of Troop 428."