Tina Pomeromtz doles out hugs to participants as they file into the hallway at the Federal Way Community Center on a recent Wednesday afternoon.

“You’re my buddy,” she says to several people she recognizes as they wait for the weekly Fitness FUNdamentals class to begin. She’s also quick to tell them, “I love you so much.”

Other class participants inquire about newcomers’ names before embracing them too.

Pomeromtz, 25, comes to the center once a week and says she enjoys participating because “it’s just so much fun.”

The fitness class is part of the city of Federal Way’s Inclusion Program, which provides an opportunity for people with and without disabilities to participate together.

Before the dozen or so participants hit the workout machines, they circled the indoor track to warm-up. Amy Novak, 41, listened to songs by singers such as Kenny Chesney and Faith Hill on her iPod as she walked. She beamed when she spoke about the various country singers and her favorite songs, including Hunter Haye’s “Wanted,” and offered one of her earbuds to other participants.

Novak, a lifelong Federal Way resident, has participated in the various Inclusion Program for as long as she can recall.

“Yesterday I did arts and crafts,” Novak said. “I just like to be with my friends.”

Soon after warming up, Novak’s roommate, Heather Leuty, smiled as she worked out on one of the machines.

“I’m here always,” said Leuty, 38. “On Mondays, I go bowling, on Tuesdays, I come and do arts and crafts and on Wednesdays, I do workouts.”

Her favorite activity?

“Everything,” said Leuty, wearing a T-shirt featuring characters from Disney’s “Frozen” that says “Family Forever.” “It’s fun to be with people. It’s fun to be with friends.”

Kevin Hutchinson, the Inclusion Program coordinator, has been involved with the program for six years. King County began the program nearly 20 years ago as a way to provide employment assistance for people with disabilities, he said. Over the years, Highline College administered part of the program and two years ago, the city of Federal Way took it over with funding through a Community Development Block Grant, Hutchinson said.

Now, the program provides life skills, social and recreational programs for over 300 participants every year.

“We call it inclusive programs because we try to integrate people with disabilities in the community and all of our programs are open to all people,” he said, noting between 90-95 percent of participants have disabilities. He added, “We try to get them out in the community and do things that they otherwise might not have a chance to do.”

He said it is difficult for many people with disabilities to maintain a social network after they graduate from high school, so the program provides social clubs on Friday nights and trips every Saturday that offer people opportunities to socialize.

Other popular programs include Special Olympics sports, a therapeutic drumming class and Friendship Theater.

One of Hutchinson’s biggest goals this year is to raise funds for a scholarship program to benefit low-income program participants. The city is partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way and will host an Ocktoberfest fundraiser dinner on Oct. 24 at the Community Center.

Sharon Boyle, who has been involved with the program for 30 years and directs the athletic and Friendship Theater programs, said the program also benefits staff, instructors and volunteers.

She said though her work is “trying at times,” it’s rewarding when she sees participants transform and flourish.

“Personally, it’s just the satisfaction that a group of people who probably wouldn’t have these opportunities, gets to have an opportunity to do these things, whether it be sports, or whether it be theater and that they have their time in the sun like everybody else, they get to shine,” Boyle said. “That’s why I do it. That’s what gives me satisfaction is maybe a smile on their face if they accomplished a goal or after the play is over and they’re standing there just beaming and taking more bows, even if it’s a small thing …”

She noted one girl who participated in Friendship Theatre’s performance of “The Little Mermaid Junior” in June was initially unsure of herself. The girl questioned everything: Am I doing this right? Are you sure I’m doing this OK?

“But at the end of the play she walked off the stage and said to me, ‘I did really good, my family is clapping like crazy for me.’ She finally realized that, hey, I’m doing it. I can do this,” Boyle said, crying. “So those are the kind of moments that just tear at my heart. This was so worth it because now she’s got a little more self confidence so she can go do whatever else it is that she wants to do.”

More information

For more information about the city’s Inclusion Program, visit itallhappenshere.org or contact the Federal Way Community Center at 253-835-6900.

The Ocktoberfest fundraiser dinner for inclusion will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at the Federal Way Community Center. The event will include polka music, polka dance lessons, a bratwurst bar, silent and dessert auctions and more.

Heather Leuty works out on a machine during a Fitness FUNdamentals class at the Federal Way Community Center on a recent Wednesday afternoon. Carrie Rodriguez/the Mirror

Amy Novak listens to country music on her iPod during her workout. Carrie Rodriguez/the Mirror