April Gable dropping off collected donations at a local pantry in Boalsburg. (Submitted photo)

LEWISTOWN – When April Gable talks about food insecurity, she doesn’t begin with statistics or policy. She begins with dignity.

“Food insecurity is not just about empty cupboards,” said the 25-year-old, who is currently enrolled as a Penn State graduate student. “It’s about belonging. It’s about making sure every person — every child, every senior, every family — knows they have a place at the table.”

Gable graduated from Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio, in 2018, and the University of Cincinnati in 2023.

As Miss Central Pennsylvania, Gable has taken that belief and built it into a statewide mission: a community service initiative she calls “A Seat at the Table,” designed to address hunger at its root while empowering people of all ages to take part in the solution.

For Gable, the issue is both universal and deeply personal.

“We all eat. We all need fuel to live, work, study, grow and take care of one another,” she said. “Service shouldn’t separate access from action. Whether you’re lending a hand behind the counter or getting your plate filled, we all have a seat at the same table.”

Her approach is grounded in empathy — a recognition that most people will never know the full weight someone else is carrying. That belief shapes the tone of her work, which emphasizes compassion over judgment and community over charity.

“Treat others exactly how you would want to be treated when you’re at your lowest,” she said.

Understanding the emotional toll of hunger

Gable often explains food insecurity through a simple exercise: think about how often you consider food in a day. Maybe it’s at mealtimes, while scrolling on your phone, or when you pass your favorite restaurant. Now imagine being so busy you skip a meal — the stomach ache, the foggy brain, the dip in energy.

“Most people can fix that feeling with a quick stop at a drive-thru or a meal waiting at home,” she said. “But imagine there is no meal prep, no snacks in the drawer, and a negative balance in your account — and you’re responsible not just for yourself, but for your family.”

That daily strain, she notes, affects far more than physical health. Hunger tightens its grip on mood, focus, comprehension, and the ability to stay present.

That’s why a significant portion of her work focuses on young adults and college students — a population often overlooked in conversations about hunger.

According to the National College Attainment Network, 95,000 college students in Pennsylvania experience food insecurity. “Our future doctors, lawyers, and teachers have more to focus on than where their next meal is coming from,” Gable said.

A turning point — and a call to action

Although Gable’s service work began years earlier, the pause of SNAP benefits in late 2025 became a defining moment. The temporary halt affected roughly one in six Pennsylvanians and 47 million Americans nationwide. “I knew I couldn’t solve all their worries,” she said, “but I could help.”

The crisis pushed her to expand ideas she had set aside and to step more fully into the Miss America Opportunity — something she had dreamed of for years. With her recent retirement from competitive twirling and her community in need, she decided it was time to “jump in headfirst.”

Her early service roots run deep. She began by volunteering at food pantries, organizing small donation drives and helping families access resources. In 2021, while serving as Undergraduate Student Body President at the University of Cincinnati, she co-founded UC Healthy Bites, a program that continues to support students today. “It shows how large ideas can grow when the right people are behind you,” she said.

‘A Seat at the Table’ — A Platform Built on Action

Gable’s initiative, “A Seat at the Table,” equips individuals with tools to address hunger in ways that are accessible, tangible, and community-driven. She encourages simple habits — picking up an extra item at the grocery store, volunteering a few hours a month, or supporting local food drives. “It may not seem like much,” she said, “but it could be the difference between someone eating that day or not.”

One of her most visible efforts is the transformation of her NextGen Twirl Clinic series. What began as athletic workshops has grown into weekend-long events drawing athletes from across the country — including more than 150 attendees at a recent clinic.

Each event collects food or monetary donations that are reinvested 100 percent into surrounding food banks. Some clinics are now fully donation-funded, allowing athletes to “pay” in canned goods or request scholarship attendance. The goal is to reduce cost barriers for low-income families while strengthening community ties.

Another signature project is Pantry Made, inspired by the accessibility of local porch pantries. The program begins with a food drive or grocery trip, then pairs donated items with recipe cards and step-by-step cooking videos. In its first month, Pantry Made distributed more than 422 essential goods in hand-decorated paper bags across Centre County.

The bags, designed to promote dignity and care, can now be found in porch pantries throughout Pennsylvania. Each year, Gable plans to compile the recipes — along with added surprises — into a book sold during Miss Pennsylvania week, with proceeds benefiting food banks statewide.

Beyond her own initiatives, Gable remains active in established programs, volunteering at church community meals, donating to local YMCAs, and assisting with food drives across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Her title, she says, gives her a wider platform to amplify the work of leaders already fighting hunger. She currently collaborates with C3 Sports, the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance, Good Plates Eatery and the YMCA, among others.

A mission rooted in family

Gable’s commitment to compassion is shaped by her upbringing. She recalls her father slipping extra snacks into her lunch “just in case a classmate needed one,” even during times when her own family’s pantry was bare. Her mother donated plasma and blood to help pay for twirling lessons and competition fees.

“I didn’t know where we stood financially,” Gable said. “I thought everything was just ‘fresh’ because my dad was a great cook.” Only later did she realize how carefully her parents shielded her and her sisters from the weight of financial strain. “For that feeling of security, I will never be able to repay them — but I can pay it forward.”

That perspective fuels her belief that service must make people feel seen, supported, and worthy of care.

“Who am I to judge when I’ve lived similar experiences?” Gable added. “We’re all doing life for the first time. Why not be kind?”

Building a network of support

Gable welcomes collaboration from individuals, families, businesses, schools, and community centers.

“Anyone and anything in between,” Gable said. She is actively building relationships through sponsorships, donations, food drives, appearances, and even baton-twirling demonstrations. Her contact information is public, and she encourages community members to reach out.

Her optimism is reinforced by what she has witnessed firsthand. During the SNAP pause, Pennsylvania — especially Central Pennsylvania — rallied behind local food banks. At the “Valley With A Heart” food drive in Wilkes-Barre, donations overflowed shelves, and cars lined up for hours.

A local professional told the Penn State Collegian that the surge in support helped cover the increased need. “If folks kept up that sense of urgency all year long,” Gable said, “we could make real strides in eradicating hunger.”

Looking ahead

While her work has focused heavily on young adults, Gable’s role as Miss Central Pennsylvania opens doors to reach kindergarten through 12th grade students, senior homes, day care centers and local leaders. She hopes to spark conversations about fueling the body, sharing resources, and supporting neighbors.

“With my new shiny hat and batons in hand,” she said, “I’m excited to meet people where they are — and maybe make a few people smile.”

For Gable, the message is simple and unwavering: “A meal is more than food — it’s the energy behind everything you do.”