ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (InvestigateTV) — A retired firefighter in suburban St. Louis has found an unusual way to help students struggling with school lunch debt by crafting wooden swords and donating the proceeds to local schools.
Chris Monroe started making swords for his grandchildren three years ago. Word spread to neighborhood children, and he has since created more than 100 handmade wooden weapons from his garage workshop.
“I get texts and emails from kids about swords and about where they take it and what they did with it. It’s gratifying that I found some purpose,” Monroe said.
Fighting debt one sword at a time
For every sword Monroe makes, he accepts a donation.
At the end of each school year, he takes the collected funds…