Soldiers from locally based Army Reserve units marched Saturday morning to show their care for abused or neglected children.

In uniform, and bearing donations, the troops hiked two and a half miles from the Army Reserve Center in Schenectady, to the headquarters of Things of My Very Own - the group offers support to kids impacted by abuse.

Their holiday wish program lets those children ask for gifts they might not otherwise get.

With Santa on hand, the soldiers offered encouragement. They helped hand out gifts, along with warm clothes and other needed items.

A Colonel with the Army Reserve called it a rewarding experience.

"It's just great, we adore this mission that Rainn has and it's a great way to help others start to bring peace into their lives. As I mentioned last year, this is my hometown. To be able to do this in my hometown, and help my hometown people, have our soldiers help them, I couldn't be more proud," said Col. Walter Venneman, commander in the seventh Legal Operations Detachment

The Army Reserve units say they were assisted in gathering the items donated today, by officers from the Schenectady and Niskayuna police departments, as well as NIskayuna firefighters.