Farm Manager

​Matt Lechmaier joined Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens in May 2020 as Farm Manager at Forward Garden. A graduate of Memorial High School and the Wildlife Ecology graduate program at the University of Wisconsin, Matt is happy to be back in the area living closer to family. Prior to joining the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens, Matt spent two years working for the UC-Davis Arboretum and eight years managing a Youth Environmental Program for the Center for Land-Based Learning. He also founded and oversaw the operation of a small organic farm in Winters, CA for seven years. When he is not at work, Matt can often be found exploring nearby parks and natural areas with his wife, Lauren, and two young children, Hazel and Oliver.

Associate Farm Manager

Kaila Topping joined Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens in January 2025 as Associate Farm Manager at Forward Garden.  Kaila has six years of prior on-farm experience growing diversified vegetables using organic and bio-intensive practices.  She is passionate about making fresh and culturally relevant food available to the many people who call Madison home.  Most recently, she was the Farm Manager at Gorman Community Farm in Fitchburg.  She earned a Master of Science in Agroecology from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Juniata College.  In her spare time, Kaila enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, making and giving floral arrangements, and spending time in the kitchen cooking and canning foods.

Marketing Specialist

Darcie Van Dop began with Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens as an AmeriCorp VISTA in 2023. As an Outreach Coordinator, she enhanced the organization’s visibility by attending local events and designing marketing materials. After her time as a VISTA, Darcie was offered a permanent position with Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens in Marketing and Community Outreach.  She continues to bring community awareness to the organization's mission. Darcie received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Central Michigan University. Prior to joining MAFPG, she was the Community Relations Specialist for Central Michigan Community Hospital, then accepted a position in Marketing and Graphic Design for the Isabella Bank Corporation. In her spare time, Darcie enjoys spending time with her husband, Jon and their son, Nicholas. She enjoys coffee with friends, golfing and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.

AmeriCorps VISTA

Hannah Jury is serving MAFPG as an AmeriCorps VISTA as a part of the Hunger Free America Program, where members work to end hunger in communities across the country. She began with MAFPG in August of 2024 and will remain with the organization through the 2025 growing season. As a Capacity Building VISTA, Hannah is researching programs in the state of Wisconsin that increase nutrition security through community-level produce access, developing further relationships with pantry partners to increase our efficiency with produce distribution, and cultivate community relationships to increase our volunteer opportunities throughout our network of gardens. Hannah received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. When Hannah isn’t working with the community, she loves hiking, listening to live music (especially jazz), and reading.

To apply for one of our internship positions, please see our Employment page.