MILWAUKEE — As temperatures drop near freezing overnight, Adebisi Agoro is hard at work collecting coats for kids in need.
The second-annual Adebisi Winter Coat Drive is underway in honor of Agoro's son bearing the same name.
Adebisi Agoro III died during a family trip when his life vest malfunctioned during a swim in 2018.
"It's one of those moments I have to live with for the rest of my life," Agoro said. "I saw it. I still hear it."
Agoro said his son consistently gave back to the community and friends in need.
"My son was always about giving," he said.
Agoro works at a Carhartt, one of the several locations accepting donations.
He recalls having a conversation with the store manager about dropping off some posters.
"I thought I was going to put them in the back of the store," he said. However he was pleasantly surprised to have his posters featured in front.
Agoro said that he can't bring his son back, but he can keep his warm, charitable spirit alive during the cold winter months with a coat drive.
"As his dad, I can't do the things I used to do. As his father, though, there is something I can do for him to be relevant in the physical world," he said.
Donations are being accepted at several locations throughout Milwaukee:
Northside YMCA
1350 W. North Ave.
Jazzyrae Jewels
4307 W. Vilet St.
Fly Blooms
339 W. North Ave.
BMO Harris Bank
2745 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Shindig Coffee (Sherman Phoenix)
3536 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.
Carhartt
11500 E. Burleigh St.
Convenient Goodies
7516 W. Appleton Ave.
Pluto Nile Restaurant
6542 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.
Quez Creation Barbershop
6542 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.
Fiserv Forum
1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave.
