LAHAINA – On a recent Wednesday, members of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset visited the West Maui Adult Day Care Center and sponsored a visit by the Caring K9s Therapy Dogs.

Melodie Ulman and her therapy dog Kodi, and Graham Richmond and his therapy dog Indy, visited with each of the clients at the Adult Day Care Center.

The dogs, their handlers and the Rotary Club members spent time interacting with each of the seniors in the center.

According to Caring K9s Director Ulman, “Therapy dog visits help to put a smile on these seniors’ faces, brighten their day or bring back cherished pet memories.”

The Rotary Club members spent time “talking story” with the seniors as they intermingled with the dogs and their handlers.

After the dogs and handlers departed, the Rotary Club members served cake and ice cream to the seniors.

According to Kathleen Couch, director of Maui Adult Day Care Centers, “The seniors just LOVE cake and ice cream, so the visit with the dogs and this sweet treat really made the day special for them.”

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset selected this visit as their “Kupuna Kokua” project.

During the 2018-19 Rotary year, each Rotary Club was asked to select a project that would support seniors in their community.

Past President Joanne Laird stated, “This visit by Caring K9s for the seniors will surely become a project that we will continue every year.

“Just seeing the smiles on the faces of the seniors as they hugged the dogs helped us realize that our seniors are an important and often underserved part of our community.”

In related news, Anna Lieding will be the speaker at the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset on Tuesday, June 4.

The meeting will be held at the Royal Ocean Terrace Restaurant at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Kaanapali.

The meeting time is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Malama Maui Nui is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire and empower individuals and communities to beautify and maintain Maui Nui’s environment, thereby supporting its economy, quality of life and unique Hawaiian culture.

Through litter pickups, marine debris cleanups, recycling events and more, MMN brings individual volunteers, local businesses, community organizations and government agencies together to promote the environmental health of Maui County.

Lieding’s presentation is entitled “Go Green Third Saturday – Clarity, Community and Conservation.”

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset has collaborated with Malama Maui Nui on this monthly recycling activity since 2016.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at the Ocean Terrace Restaurant at the Royal Lahaina Resort starting at 5:30 p.m.

For more information on the club, or to volunteer for one of its many service projects, visit www.RotaryClubOfLahainaSunset.com.