A Letter from the Founder

Now, Later, Forever is a grass roots effort created to provide immediate comfort in a small way (and future hope as only God can provide), to some of His neediest and most precious souls.

Jesus said “As unto the least of these my brethren, so you have done unto me”, and it is in the spirit of this passage from the book of Mathew 25:40 that I strive to move this effort forward.

The blessing of “doing for others” in a hands-on, affordable and immediate impact way, has brought my family closer to each other, and closer to God. We all feel a part of something that is special, bigger than ourselves and (we pray), pleasing in God’s sight. Please know that I am not seeking donations or financial contributions! It is my pleasure to share, that you (and your family), may both bless others and be blessed.

John Ritz Miller

The History

This site is in honor of John A. Daly and his encouragement for all to “Help the Poor”

In the early 1980’s, while operating my small gym outside of Washington D.C. and spending spare time training at a Kung Fu school a couple of miles away, the needs of some of “the least of these” (a term I use with humility), became quite apparent. From the hopelessness of the street people scavenging and hording, to the dignified but desperate day-workers seeking to provide for their families, and the homeless working the sidewalks and street corners to get just enough money to buy food or (in the worst case scenario), fund their next fix, the pain was clearly as plentiful as the need.

Like many, I would hesitantly hand over spare change with concern about how it would be spent, pray that it would be used for good as part of God’s Will, and then take comfort in knowing that regardless of what they did with it, my heart was in the right place.

Not wanting to fund the purchase of drugs or alcohol, early efforts to respond evolved into periodically buying a back seat full of cheap blankets from a local discount linen store. At some perceived risk to my personal safety, I would drive into the neediest areas of D.C. on cold nights to pass them out in an attempt to comfort those sleeping on and under tattered pieces of cardboard on the sidewalk grates.

Other brisk days (when stopping for morning coffee), I would buy extra cups for the day-workers standing on the street corners looking to pick up odd jobs, and the “visitors” checking in at the County Social Service Office across from a donut shop. On particularly cold winter mornings, I could see and “feel” the eyes watching for me to come so that they could follow me to the warmth inside. Since non-paying “customers” were a problem, Shopkeepers would prominently post “No Loitering” and “Paying Customers Only” signs to make sure everyone knew who was and was not welcome. Clearly they had to act in the best interest of their business and I did not want to create a hardship for the owners, so it was an awkward and uncomfortable situation and I was just happy to provide some temporary relief to my “friends”, and quickly move on.

The kind acts accompanied by encouraging words were clearly appreciated, but I could not help but feel that the effort was somehow inadequate and woefully incomplete. It was then that I came up with the idea for:

Now, Later, Forever