ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - As the amount of student lunch debt in Missouri surpasses $138 million , a St. Peters man wants to alleviate the financial burden from families who may be struggling.

Chris Monroe began making hand-carved wooden swords for his grandchildren a few years ago.

“YouTube is an incredible thing,” he said. “You have to try really hard nowadays to be stupid. There is so much information out there on how to do things.”

As time went on, kids in the neighborhood caught wind of what Monroe was creating in his garage--and demand grew.

In the last three years, he estimates he’s created more than 100 swords.

“I like making them, but I really like teaching the kids history,” he said. “Often, they want something that has to do with their family heritage.”

Monroe beg

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