Arts & Entertainment Community

Relief Beds, a Pierce County nonprofit, helps people without a home find rest

“Americans With No Address,” a documentary highlighting the causes of homelessness in America, will show in two theaters at Gig Harbor’s Galaxy Theater at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, as a fundraiser for Pierce County-based nonprofit Relief Bed International. 

Scott Smalling, a Gig Harbor native and Gig Harbor High School graduate, founded Relief Bed International in 2015, when he realized that his background in foam fabrication could help others. His family has owned and operated a foam fabricating company for 80 years. 

Instead of throwing away foam remnants produces during manufacturing of his company’s products, he found a way to do good with it.

Scott Smalling is the founder of Relief Bed International, a nonprofit that supplies portable, reusable mattresses, mats, and sleep aids to homeless shelters, as well as disaster relief efforts. His son Hunter has been helping with the nonprofit since he was in his teens. Photo courtesy of Scott Smalling

Sleeping pads for those who need them

“I noticed we were putting this closed-cell foam in the dumpster, and most people looked at it and thought it wouldn’t have much use. But I looked at it and said if we cut it in half, it’s a sleeping pad for someone on the street,” Smalling said. 

He developed a valve that both allows air in when it is ready to be used and keeps air out when it’s rolled up for storage. He also developed a durable outer covering and a bag to put it in, and began distributing them.

People from Tacoma to Ukraine to Uganda now use Relief Beds.

Since 2015, Relief Bed International has donated more than 35,000 mattresses, mats and sleep aids to homeless shelters across the country and the world.

Relief Bed International has donated sleep products all over the country, and the world, including an orphanage in Uganda. The documentary film “Americans With No Address” will be showing at Gig Harbor’s Galaxy Theater Oct. 16 as part of a fundraiser for Relief Bed International.
Photo courtesy of Scott Smalling

Smalling partnered with two faith-based nonprofits — World Vision of Federal Way and Convoy of Hope of Missouri — to distribute the mats, mattresses and sleep aids. They also distribute Relief Kits, which include gloves, socks and hygiene bags, to areas of the world where they are needed.

“This is an all-volunteer nonprofit,” he said of Relief Bed International. “No one is receiving a check.”

Local fundraisers

The Oct. 16 fundraiser is the second Smalling has hosted at Galaxy Theater. In 2017 he raised money with the film, “Same Kind of Different As Me,” which was a Ron Hall story that helped to raise money for nonprofit organizations that help the homeless population.

“We did a red carpet for that film, and we had 400 people show up,” he said. “This won’t be quite that big, and it’s a documentary, so it’s hard hitting.”

As much as possible, Smalling donates into the nonprofit through his for-profit ventures. Those include Relief Products, LLC, which sells commercial furniture and bedding at the retail level; and Relief Bed Wholesale, which specializes in mattresses, bed frames, and pillows.

“I don’t like asking people for money,” he said. “The reason these two commercial entities were created was so I could support myself, and also not have to raise as much money (for the nonprofit).”

However, providing the products to those who need them does cost money. He said that he is thankful for this opportunity to showcase the plight of the unhoused and bring awareness, while providing those who care deeply about the issue a way to help monetarily. 

Scott Smalling developed the Relief Bed by taking scrap product from his foam fabrication company, and turning it into a usable mat in 2015. He is the founder of the nonprofit Relief Bed International, which provides mats, beds, and relief kits to those in need. Photo courtesy of Scott Smalling

Faith and compassion

He said compassion is what is needed when addressing homelessness. 

“Homelessness is the biggest political thing that I do,” he said. “Disaster relief, people find that understandable. But, homelessness, people either are sensitive to it, or they think the homeless are lazy, and they don’t get it. You don’t know someone’s story.” 

Smalling doesn’t hide that he is a man of faith, but he said he also doesn’t push it onto others. He just tries to live out his beliefs.

He said the Bible verse 1 Peter 4:10 is his guide: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

About 115 of the 215 seats available for Wednesday’s movie remain available. Ticket prices range from $35 to $260. 

All proceeds from ticket sales — except Galaxy’s cut of $7-$10 for each ticket — goes to support Relief Beds. A $35 ticket provides about 20% of the cost of a Relief Bed for someone in need. The $260 ticket provides two Relief Beds.

Movie goers will get a sneak peek of “No Address,” a movie based on the same information from the documentary. It stars William Baldwin, Xander Berkeley, Beverly D’Angelo and Ashanti and will be released Feb. 28, 2025. 

To purchase tickets for “Americans With No Address,” visit reliefbed.org. If the “buy tickets” button for Gig Harbor is still visible, tickets are still available, Smalling said. Another viewing will be at The Grand in Tacoma on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.