Eastsound naturopathic doctor Kate Jewell has loaded up her car with 18 boxes of donated goods for Japan: clothing, flashlights, batteries, toothbrushes and even some toys.

“It’s always good on these missions to have something to give the kids,” said Jewell, who has traveled to El Salvador and Guatemala on previous community health-focused missions of mercy with the organization Airline Ambassadors International (She’s a retired American Airlines flight attendant).

Jewell’s load of supplies will be delivered to a cargo ship in Seattle before she heads to Japan herself. As soon the disaster-stricken country reopens to aid workers, she will fly into Tokyo and head north to set up a base of operation for future teams of volunteers. While the organization’s main focus is on airline families affected by the disasters, Jewell said their efforts will assist the whole community as well.

“Normally we get as close to the devastation to set up as possible,” she said. She’s going equipped with potassium iodide pills, as she expects to be in the radiation zone. (As an aside, Jewell noted that a 14-day supply of the pills was recently offered online for $250, up from the usual cost of $10. Online retailer www.nukepills.com currently says it’s overwhelmed by a backlog of 3,000 orders.) She also has to be fully self-reliant during her stay; she will carry all of her own water, food and bedding with her.

Jewell has received donations from The Aurora Company, Cherry T’s, Ace Hardware, dentist Steve Bailey and many individual islanders who have heard of her mission.

“The island has been so generous,” said Jewell. “The whole thing has been serendipitous.”

While her vehicle is full up on supplies, she said islanders who want to help can donate funds to Airline Ambassadors International online.The funds will be used for radiation supplies and other needs.

Jewell can be reached until she departs at 376-7663.