If you see a rig wrapped in an impressive tribal tattoo design cruising down Fourth Street in Reno or parked near an encampment off I-80, chances are it’s Misty Moepono-Wood, a one-woman force of kindness on a mission to feed the hungry and help those often overlooked by society.
It all started with a simple gesture.
“I decided to cook meals one day,” Misty said. “I went out there and distributed meals to people living behind dumpsters and in alleys. I don’t know their situation, but I know they’re hungry and cold. It snows out there, and a lot of them don’t go to shelters, maybe it’s pride or maybe it’s personal. But whatever it is, there’s no judgment from me.”
Misty quickly became a familiar face, and now when she drives down the streets, they know her car and wait.
“Hey, it’s Misty!” they call out, eager for a warm meal and a friendly face.
But Misty’s mission is about more than just food. Through her organization, Polynesian Discoveries, Misty has created a lifeline for people struggling with homelessness, hunger, and uncertainty.
What started with meals for a few has blossomed into a large-scale operation. Each month, Misty, friends, volunteers, and whatever family member is around, distribute over 1,000 pounds of food to families in need across northern Nevada. She works with Walmart and Raley’s in Fernley, the Asian Mart in Reno, and a program called KD Grace in Reno to source high-quality food that nourishes both body and soul.
She’s also expanded her work to include a pet food program through a partnership with Petco. Recognizing that many families in need have pets they love dearly, Misty brings in over 5,000 pounds of pet food to ensure furry family members don’t go hungry either.
“I do it all out of my home,” Misty said with a laugh. “I tried to get a grant through the city, but I couldn’t get it. I’ve tried for funding, but that hasn’t come through either. So, it’s all done off my husband’s income.”
Despite the challenges, Misty’s heart has never wavered.
Misty’s mission doesn’t stop at feeding the hungry. She is passionate about helping people transition out of homelessness by guiding them toward independence.
“We help feed them, but we also give them guidance to get them out of the situation they’re in,” Misty explained. “We encourage them to find a job and help them with resumes and resources to move forward. A couple of our clients now have jobs and no longer need to utilize our program, but we let them know—we’re still here for them. They can come back for clothing drives, school supplies, or whatever else they need.”
Through partnerships with local healthcare providers like Tyson McBride, a nurse practitioner in Lovelock, Misty’s outreach has extended to medical care and wound treatment for those in need. Tyson’s dedication to the community has been life-changing, not only for Misty’s clients but also for her own family.
Misty shared a deeply personal story about how Tyson helped her brother, who was homeless in Hawaii and battling severe diabetes. After losing one leg to the disease, doctors were ready to amputate his other leg. Desperate for a solution, Misty turned to Tyson for help.
“Tyson said, ‘Send him to Lovelock. Let’s help him,’” Misty recalled. “I put my brother on a plane, and the next day, Tyson was treating his wounds. Tyson gave him treatment and even got approval for a stem cell procedure—my brother was the first patient in Pershing County to receive stem cell treatment.”
Her brother healed and now has a new lease on life, thanks to Tyson and Misty’s unwavering commitment to family and community.
Misty and her team are also the first point of contact for many organizations in Lovelock and beyond. From local schools to the Domestic Violence Intervention (DVI) program, agencies call Misty when families are in crisis.
Recently, when an Imlay family lost their home in a devastating fire, Misty’s network sprang into action.
“The Mustang School contacted me,” Misty said. “The family had nine dogs that survived the fire, so we supplied a pallet of dog food to make sure when they came home, they wouldn’t have to worry about feeding their dogs.”
Misty’s dream is to expand Polynesian Discoveries and secure a permanent location where she can serve even more people. But until that happens, she continues to operate out of her home, with her cars wrapped to reflect her mission—making her easy to spot as she pulls up to distribute food and hope.
“I’ll be doing this until I take my last breath,” Misty said with a smile. “Because I know I’m making a difference.”
To donate or learn more about Polynesian Discoveries, visit polynesiandiscoveries.org or find them on Facebook. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps feed a family and provide resources to those in need.
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