Retired firefighter carves swords to pay down student lunch debt

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (Aging Untold) — A retired firefighter in a St. Louis suburb is hand-carving swords and using donations from the hobby to help pay down student lunch debt at local schools. Chris Monroe began making swords for his grandchildren. Word reached neighborhood kids, and he started making more. Three years later, he had made more than 100 swords. “I get texts and emails from kids, you know, about swords and about where they take it and what they did with it,” Monroe said. “It’s gratifying, you know ... that I found a purpose.” How the donations work For every sword Monroe makes, he accepts a donation. At the end of the school year, he takes the donations to a local school district, where they are used to pay down student lunch debt. Each donation is made in the name of the child who supported his creations. “They’re learning a value here, that there are people out there that need help, and they’re stepping up to help,” Monroe said. Monroe said he didn’t realize how commo