VAN, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Dozens of families who had been preparing for financial limitations this holiday season now have hundreds to spend on their children and other family members, thanks to some hometown charity.

Tony Gibson, a graduate of Van High School and the current defensive coordinator for West Virginia University's football team, dropped by his Alma mater Thursday to deliver gift cards, worth over $20,000, to more than 50 low-income families from the Van and Warton areas.

Gibson said donations that went toward the gifts came from several of his personal friends, many of whom had ties to college football, and all of them have ties to West Virginia.

Each family received two gifts, which totaled $375 in value; the first was a Walmart card worth $225 and designated for clothes and toys. The second gift was a Shoppers Value gift certificate worth $150 to go towards food.

Gibson said, during an address to parents, that the money was to go toward making their children's Christmas special.

"We want them to wake up and enjoy Christmas like every other kid," Gibson said. "There's nothing like seeing a little boy or a little girl smile on Christmas day."

Gibson said about $10,000 was raised in addition to the money that funded Thursday's gifts. He says that money has been put in an endowment fund to help make holiday donations like these an annual tradition.

"We want to keep this thing rolling," Gibson said. "Whether it's in Boone County, Logan County, wherever it may be, Mingo County, and just try to...help out as much as we can."

Gibson said many of the families selected had worked in the local coal mining industry; which has been in dire financial straits in recent years.