Caridad Crops

Merideth Spriggs received her bachelor's degree in Christian Education from Olivet Nazarene University, in 2000. Spriggs then went on to complete her Master of Divinity in 2004 from Nazarene Theological Seminary. In October 2008, Merideth lost her job and became homeless on the streets of San Diego. After struggling with homelessness, Merideth overcame the roadblock and was hired at the San Diego Rescue Mission to work in the Recuperative Care Unit. In 2010, Merideth was inspired by the work she did and founded Caridad to educate the public about the facts of homelessness, as well as highlight and create partnerships between agencies and volunteers. In 2013, Merideth and her husband relocated to Las Vegas. Merideth was named the Las Vegas Weekly 15 in 15 to Watch in 2015 and was one of the three finalists for the Red Bandanna Hero Award by the American Heroes Channel in October 2017.

The project addresses the lack of access to healthy foods for low-income individuals/families, as well as the employment issues veterans face while reintegrating into society. The project provides free produce for households living within a two-mile radius of the farm site. Farmers regularly grow produce at the hydroponic Freight Farm. Residents have the option to participate by opting in for text messages, which will notify them how to secure a bag. The produce is distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis. The goals are to reintegrate formerly homeless veterans into the workforce, in addition to providing free fresh produce to decrease health issues in poor households. The project could elevate humanity by creating a healthy experience for collective groups of individuals to improve their health and lives.

Caridad is trying to solve two issues: (1) the issue of job reintegration of formerly homeless; and (2) lack of access to healthy nutritious foods for low-income individuals and families living in a food desert. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 37,085 veterans were considered homeless in January 2019. Of the total number of homeless veterans, 557 of them reside in Las Vegas. Caridad has a partnership with U.S Vets. The partnership offers housing and job opportunities to formerly homeless veterans. The program assists the vets to work toward self-sufficiency and independence. Additionally, as cited by The Food Trust (2010), there is a positive relationship between access to healthy food and eating behaviors. While we are providing jobs for veterans, we are also providing fresh produce to low-income families to improve community health.

Caridad Crops uses a hydroponic farm located in a renovated shipping container. The shipping container possesses various towers that grow plants vertically without soil. The plants get their nutrition from water and light energy from LED lights. The combination of the water and LED lights grows plants in as little as four weeks. Caridad Crops then harvests the plants and gives them to local community members. The program hires formerly homeless veterans to grow the plants and produce. 

The project serves formerly homeless veterans and low-income individuals/families living in the Downtown Las Vegas neighborhood (within a 2-mile radius of the Freight Farm). Those enrolled in Caridad’s work program are veterans who are also enrolled in U.S. Vets’ housing programming. To understand their needs, Caridad works with each veteran to address their respective questions and/or concerns. Outside of being a regular work program, Caridad works with the veterans’ case managers to provide one-on-one assistance to the veterans working and reintegrating back into society. By providing them with meaningful work that engages them in the community, Caridad is addressing their basic, financial, and emotional needs. Lastly, Caridad is communicating directly with the Downtown Las Vegas community to understand their needs living in a food desert. The agency is responding by providing fresh nutritious produce. 

Caridad Crops elevates opportunities for all people, especially those who are traditionally left behind, by creating new opportunities for people who need them. The project provides both food and employment to at-risk communities.

Caridad’s founder, Meredith Spriggs, was formerly homeless and created Caridad to help create awareness and educate the public about the reality of homelessness. Then, Caridad partnered with the Fergusons Downtown to take over the Freight Farm; and per their suggestion, a homeless job program using gardening was born.

Caridad is passionate about giving second chances to individuals while increasing food availability in the community. Spriggs experienced homelessness firsthand. During her experience, she found out that there are many misconceptions about homelessness. These include: no homeless individual wants to get a job, everyone is addicted to substances, or they’re lazy. Caridad aims to inform people about the facts of homelessness rather than the stereotypical image that many individuals possess.

Caridad Crops is a new concept nationwide. Caridad has spent the past 10 years being an innovative leader in homeless services.  Now that Caridad has partnered with Anthem and the Fergusons Downtown, we hope to continue to break the stigma of homelessness, create jobs for formerly homeless veterans, and plant gardens around our community where there is a food desert and great need for fresh produce. Our staff is well-positioned to lead the program. With the combination of homeless assistance and gardening skills among staff members, Caridad is equipped to address these issues and deliver the project. 

Caridad overcame adversity when the agency switched from doing full-time homeless street outreach to creating a gardening/farming jobs program for formerly homeless vets. Operations, funding, and team leadership changed. Caridad was formerly funded by government funding but now seeks its funding from private donors and grants. Caridad has overcome adversity during its time working in the Freight Farm. Although formal Freight Farm training has been conducted, the team has had to learn from some mistakes along the way. This has resulted in entire batches of crops not making it, as well as employee issues with some of the veterans. Caridad works as a team to learn from mistakes and discusses what to do differently in the future. Simply learning the logistics of the farm through mistakes and experience has helped. This has resulted in more grown healthy sprouts. It has also resulted in how best to work with employees to address the barriers affecting them not only at work but as a result of their recovery and reintegration as well.

Caridad was the lead for ending veterans homelessness in Southern Nevada. We created a system for homeless veterans to call, get help 24/7, and get housing.  After refining the process, Las Vegas was able to get a homeless veteran housed in 30 days after receiving a phone call for assistance. In 2015, President Obama praised the Southern Nevada community for functionally ending veteran homelessness.

Caridad is working on and implementing a new project that has never been done in the community. This project is creative and innovative while addressing multiple social problems. 

In one year, Caridad will provide income to 17 veterans. In addition, 1,000 low-income individuals in the Downtown Las Vegas community will receive free produce. In five years, Caridad hopes to provide income to a minimum of 25 veterans per year while providing free produce to 3,000 individuals. This project will directly and meaningfully affect all of these people. 

One year goals: to contribute to healthful food option efforts in a food desert for a minimum of 1,000 low-income individuals; to provide income to a minimum of 17 veterans who have previously experienced homelessness and are currently in the process of reintegrating and/or recovering from complications like mental health issues; to inspire community involvement in the community by implementing new community gardens; to provide a minimum of three educational workshops on Caridad Crops and nutrition. 

Five year goals: to contribute to healthful food option efforts in a food desert for a minimum of 3,000 low-income individuals annually; to provide income to a minimum of 25 veterans annually; to inspire community involvement in the community by implementing new community gardens and maintaining already existing gardens; to provide a minimum of five educational workshops annually. 

Throughout the next five years, Caridad will work to continue growing partnerships around the community. 

Caridad partners with several organizations throughout the community. These include U.S. Vets, Fergusons Downtown, Downtown Project, dT-alley Community Coalition, Nevada Homeless Alliance, CARE Complex, and Anthem BCBS. 

Through continued fundraising, grant applications, strong leadership, organization, and transparency, Caridad plans to sustain its programming. Caridad’s plan to sustain its program, Caridad Crops, includes continued partnerships among the Las Vegas community and continued fundraising efforts. Aside from requesting grant funding, which Caridad will continue to do, Caridad continually raises funds via social media and community outreach efforts. The agency also sells plants and sprouts at Market in the Alley. Once the program is no longer in its beginning stages, Caridad plans to start selling in a large-scale fashion to local Downtown Las Vegas restaurants. Discussions and paperwork have started with regard to this. Also, the charity has established long-term community partners and sponsors who also participate in fundraising to sustain Caridad’s work. Monetary and in-kind donations are regularly made. Caridad’s leadership provides continual support to staff and has created an environment for all team members to provide feedback and contribute to always improving the organization. Caridad values transparency, which its donors, volunteers, and staff appreciate.

Anthem donated $2,275 toward Caridad Crops on 11/3/19 and $36,000 on 12/11/19. Royal Neighbors of America donated $10,000 on 9/10/19. Bicycle Transit Systems donated $25,000, which Caridad received on 11/19/19. The ISA Foundation has approved a grant and pledged $10,000 that Caridad will receive in July 2020. Of note, Caridad has funding sources that provide for other efforts and programs. 

Estimated expenses for Caridad Crops in 2020 are $110,000. With additional funding, Caridad will be able to expand its program and get toward its 5-year goal efficiently.