Media Spotlight
Amy Beach has been featured in various local publications for her dedication to promoting clean beaches and protecting sea turtles. Her efforts have been highlighted in the Fernandina Observer, Folio Weekly 2.0, Amelia Islander Magazine, and the News-Leader. Amy has discovered numerous unique items during her daily beach cleanups, including denture plates, a message in a bottle, pottery from the 1800s, a 1950s medicine bottle, an 8-track cassette tape, and even a kitchen sink. In April 2024, Beach Junki hosted the inaugural Earth Day Turtle Fest at Main Beach Park, a family-friendly event aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution and its impact on sea turtles.
Headline: Fort Clinch volunteer makes a clinching discovery
One September morning in 2016, Amy was doing what she does best – cleaning the beach. She was surprised to find a denture plate washed up. There was a name engraved inside and she wondered if she could find the owner. After a quick search on social media, she was able to return them to the thankful owner. A few days later, the owner reached out to Amy, saying , “I’m thinking of you, while I crack these crab legs with my teeth.”
Read more in the Fernandina Observer
Headline: Another denture plate found
Amazingly, on June 15, 2018, Amy found a second denture plate! Again, she made a plea on social media and the owner’s granddaughter saw the post and contacted him. When Amy met with him to return the denture, he said he had lost both top and bottom denture plates. Now, if Amy ends up finding another denture plate, it will surely make world news.
Read more in the Fernandina Observer
Headline: Washed Up
The first magazine to publish a story about Beach Junki is Folio Weekly 2.0. The October 2020 issue, written by Isa Barrientos, tells the story of Washed Up and how Beach Junki was founded. The magazine features our founder, Amy Beach, on the cover!
Headline: Behind the cover
Here is a quote from John Aloszka, the creative director of Folio 2.0 magazine:
“For October, Folio bucked the usual spooky cover in favor of something even scarier: the harsh realities of climate change, over consumption and American excess. Amy, the first singular person to grace the cover of Folio 2.0, spends her days cleaning up, and then taking home, your trash. Our over consumption has now consumed her life. Let’s all do our part to make her life a little easier:
Clean up after yourself. “
Read more in Folio
You may know, but did you know?
Amelia Islander Magazine published the story written by Mandy Haynes in their February 2021 issue on how Beach Junki was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Headline: Amelia, the Triumphant Trash Turtle
Amelia Sea Turtle’s story was published in the May 5, 2021 edition of the News-Leader. Amelia Sea Turtle is the first installment of our Washed Up Project. Marla Mcdaniels writes the story on how the dream to create Amelia Sea Turtle became a reality.
Headline: Beach Junki Cleanup benefits Sea Turtles
Our annual Earth Day Event to welcome nesting sea turtles was featured on the front page of the April 2023 edition of the News-Leader. We had over 50 volunteers sign up for beach clean up and to learn more about sea turtle nesting season.
Pat's Wildways: Wild Amelia Festival
“Amy Beach is another conservationist who is making a mark on Amelia Island. She spends hours patrolling our beaches collecting discarded items that she makes into conservation displays. She has initiated a toy drop-off box where people can recycle and reuse discarded beach toys, and this day was staffing her Beach Junki booth and helping kids with coloring projects. Another amazing person.”
Read more in the Fernandina Observer
From Country DIrt Roads to Sandy Shores
The Story of How a Country Girl Found Her Calling at the Beach
Hey yawl, I’m Amy Beach—just a small-town country girl who somehow found her feet at the beach. I grew up surrounded by the beauty of nature, spending my time playing in the woods, climbing trees, or quietly observing wildlife. Back then, I never could’ve imagined I’d end up in Fernandina Beach, helping save sea turtles and leading ocean conservation efforts—but here I am, and I’ve never felt more at home.
It all started when I saw the amount of marine debris washing up on our shores—and the need for beach education to protect sea turtles. I knew I had to do something. That’s when I started Beach Junki—a little dream with a big mission: to protect sea turtles, clean up our beaches, and educate our community.
From hands-on beach cleanups, to organizing our annual Turtle Fest, this journey has been full of heart, passion, and a whole lot of sandy shoes. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
This isn’t just a job or a cause. It’s who I am.
And if my story inspires just one person to care a little more, to do a little more, then I know I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
Beach Junki is a 501c(3) non-profit founded in Fernandina Beach Florida in 2020. Our organization depends on your support to help fund the cost of our outreach programs and educational materials to distribute at events. Thank you for donating to our mission.
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