The three brothers went out on the river every day, weather permitting. They tied some rowboats their boat to use as floating trash cans. picked up all the trash they could see in the river. Friends joined them. Then friends other friends, and by the end of the year there were more than 200 volunteers helping Green Fleet clean up the river. In the 365 days, the brothers estimated that they had more than 10 tons of trash from the . Their work was creating a cleaner-looking and cleaner-smelling .
Corporations got involved and donated money and materials. the end of the second year, the Green had grown to four boats and four barges. brothers appeared on radio talk shows and on and national TV shows. Activists throughout the nation organizing their own Green Fleets.
The Green Fleet bigger and better every year. Five years after inception, the three brothers were able to go on weekends in their river. Unfortunately, a year , Manny accidentally stuck himself with a hypodermic needle picking up a dirty plastic bag. He got infection but didn’t see a doctor until it too late. At Manny's funeral, his brothers vowed carry on their volunteer work until they were sick or old to do it any longer. honor Manny, the St. James city council voted rename the city's largest park after him.