VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: AMY TOWNS

By Megan Maynard

Some may say it was destiny that Amy Towns found her home in Melbourne Beach.  Born and raised in Indiana, Amy was only 3 months old when she first visited Indialantic. Throughout junior high and high school, she fondly remembers spending Christmases and spring breaks with her family in Indialantic, knowing one day she would move there. Since moving in 2013, she says that she’ll never leave.

Amy stays busy reading, trying makeup tutorials, working jigsaw puzzles, and painting. She also proudly states she is a good shot when she has time to go to the range. Her fur babies Izzi and Lola, both French bulldogs, are closely attended to and spoiled rotten. Much of her career has been spent in retail management, but she is occupied full time caring for her parents and volunteering.

Many years ago, Amy’s mother recommended a book, “The Beach House” by Mary Alice Monroe, and it inspired Amy to work with sea turtles. In essence the book was about a group of women, known as “turtle ladies,” on an island in South Carolina. Amy’s parents mentioned STPS, and she subsequently joined in April 2014 and has been a lifetime member for two years.

In the beginning of her volunteer journey, Amy helped with night walks and was soon placed on the state permit. Being a self-proclaimed night owl, it was the perfect role for her. She loves the peacefulness of the beach at night — as she jests, with the exception of holidays and full moons. Additionally, she helps with the annual Turtle Krawl and hopes to one day be on the board.

During one of her first night walks, she was honored to be chosen to sit next to the nesting turtle and from then on she was awestruck. It continues to be just as beautiful and majestic as that first time, and her closest comparison was when she was at the Vatican looking up toward the Sistine Chapel.

Having been named Rookie of the Year during her first year as a volunteer, Amy cannot attest enough to the lifelong friends she has made with STPS. Amy hopes to continue to educate the public about sea turtles and how we can all truly make a difference. She notes that we are educators and simply hope to help the species survive with all of our collective efforts.