Vancouver, WA – An informal dinner followed by a film showing will honor the 50th anniversary of the national “War on Poverty” and national nutrition month from 6 to 9 p.m. March 12. The free event will be open to the public at the Center for Community Health, 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. Eight families struggling through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression are featured in American Winter, an Emmy-nominated documentary filmed in the Portland metropolitan area. A panel discussion with local program participants and advocates will follow the film. The Clark County Food Bank will have a representative in attendance to provide information about nutrition education and how hunger affects local residents. President Lyndon B. Johnson unveiled plans for the “War on Poverty” in his first State of the Union address in 1964 and signed the Equal Opportunity Act later that year. Community Action Agencies were then created to work toward ending poverty in ways suitable for each community. Clark County serves as the local Community Action Agency by funding nonprofit agencies to provide a variety of services, including housing, energy assistance, food, employment programs and legal assistance. Community Action also will be recognized during the gathering March 12. This event previously was planned for November 2014 but was postponed due to wintry weather. The county website at http://www.clark.wa.gov/community-action/index.html offers more information about local programs that combat poverty and homelessness.