{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://roby.house.gov/column/special-organizations-making-difference", "Special Organizations Making a Difference", "2014-10-08", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last week I had the opportunity to visit with some special organizations that are making a difference for families in Alabama's Second Congressional District, and I wanted to share them with you.\nThe House of Ruth helps victims of domestic violence throughout the Wiregrass region by providing a safe haven and counseling services to battered women and their children. It is difficult for many victims of domestic violence to leave their situations, but knowing there is a place to turn to where people will protect and care for them can make a big difference. I'm so grateful for Executive Director Beverly Youse and the amazing House of Ruth staff and volunteers for the incredible work they do to support women in the Wiregrass.\nI was also able to visit the Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention in Dothan. The Exchange Center has been around since 1978, and specializes in caring for victims, counseling their families, and stopping the cycle of child abuse. Executive Director Pamela Miles and her dedicated team work hard to help children and families in unspeakable situations. You can learn more about them on their website at https://www.exchangecap.org/.\nChild abuse and domestic violence aren't topics we like to talk about. But, they are real issues, and having resources for victims is crucial.\nIn Montgomery, I was able to visit the West End Boys and Girls Club over off Maxwell Drive. This is an organization my family has been involved in for some time, and this year my husband, Riley is president of the River Region Boys and Girls Club Board. Children need a safe, nurturing, and fun environment to go to outside of school. Boys and Girls Clubs provide that environment along with positive adult influences that are also so important for kids. Thank you to River Region Executive Director Rick Jackson, West End Club Director Tobarie Burton and their staffs for the work they are doing to support young people in the Montgomery area.\u00a0\nThe special people at the House of Ruth, the Exchange Center and the Boys and Girls Clubs don't work for public accolades or awards. In fact, I'm sure it can be a thankless job sometimes. But I want them to know how much I appreciate them and how grateful I am for the difference they make for families in Alabama's Second Congressional District\nAs always, please let me know if there is ever anything my office can assist you with. You can contact me at www.roby.house.gov, or on Facebook. My staff and I work for you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://roby.house.gov/column/special-organizations-making-difference"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2898559216409922, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}