Neighbors in Action was the idea of Ohio farm organization leader and Turtle Creek Township farmer Lewis F. Warbington. But, the idea was quickly adopted by the volunteer efforts of organizations, rural and town, in the county. Both money and labor contributions quickly materialized from hundreds of Shelby Countians.

At the Sidney courtsquare send-off of the eight semi-trucks laden with 250,000 pounds of food, the appearance of another volunteer, Ohio Governor Thomas J. Herbert, helped spread the fame of the Shelby County effort.

Extensive news coverage by the Sidney Daily and Dayton newspapers, and radio broadcasts throughout Ohio and the nation put the county on the map. The "Three-Star Extra" coast-to-coast radio newscast featured Neighbors on July 22, the night before the food started its long journey from Sidney by truck caravan to New York and from there by ship to Bremerhaven, Germany. Fifteen inches of type detailing the program, written by a Sidney Daily reporter, was sent over the wires of the International News Service (like Associated Press) to hundreds of newspapers and radio stations throughout the country.