The Table Florida, Inc

The Board members, along with an amazing team of volunteers, help make community and change happen!

Darryl J.Coppenhaver – Co-Founder, President (head chef) 

Compassionate – the first word that comes to mind to describe myself

I grew up in east Winter Park, Florida and have the privilege of living just 6 miles from my childhood home. I have seen the change from the woods and fields of my youth in this area to the homes, busy streets, businesses and what I never saw growing up, people living without shelter. 

As a follower of Jesus, seeing this change compelled me to look for a better way to become friends with the people around my home area, show compassion, acceptance and share life and faith. This desire is why Marilyn, my wife, and I with a few friends started The Table in 2019.

Normal Bio Stuff: Eagle Scout 1975, Graduate Winter Park High School and University of Florida, BA Computer Science. Retired 2017 after a 38 year Software focused career in development, consulting and sales. Married to Marilyn for 41 years, 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Darryl is a board member and volunteer for Goldenrod Civic Club,  787 Scouting Association, and Church Together Ministries. 

Marilyn Coppenhaver – Co-Founder, Director

One Word that describes me– dependable
I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Winter Park after high school
graduation to attend college and ‘do something different’ for a few years. I went to school (Southern Business College and FTU, now UCF), got a job I loved, made friends and decided to stay. I’m glad I did! I met Jesus and soon after met my husband Darryl. We’ve been married for 41 years and have 4 remarkable children and 4 delightful grandgirls. I love meeting new people, hearing their stories and sharing a bit of encouragement. Over the years I have worked in law offices and Christian ministries, along with 5 years of homeschooling. I’ve been serving as a volunteer at church and in the community in varied capacities for over 45 years. I retired in 2015 to spend more time caring for my mother and mother-in-law. Around that time I started searching for a new way to meet people and share the love of Jesus with them. When my husband Darryl and I learned about the dinner church model (dinnerchurch.com), we knew this was something worth trying in our community. Godused our life experiences, along with several months of training, to begin The Table in 2019. There’s no other place I’d rather be on Thursday evenings!

Brian E. Biddinger – Treasurer, Director

Thanks primarily to one of my grandmothers, I’ve been hearing about Jesus all of my life. Somewhere along the way, it shifted from being a habit into my way of experiencing the world.

And because of this, since Jesus talked (rather strongly) about the responsibility for his followers to see all people as “these brothers and sisters of mine” and to share food and clothing and hospitality with them as needed, I knew it needed to become a concern for me.

I am grateful that an organization like The Table provides concrete actions to help carry out Jesus’s words, and that I can help accomplish these actions in some small way.
For the record – Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. Graduated from Stetson University with a BBA degree in Accounting and Economics. Have worked 40+ years in accounting positions with a variety of employers. Married to Nancy for 43 years, with two children and five grandchildren.

Linda O’Reilly – Secretary

I was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but spent most of my childhood in Atlanta. I went to Auburn
University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a major in accounting. I started my
accounting career as an auditor with a “Big 8” accounting firm ultimately transferring to
Orlando, Florida. My time with this firm gave me the opportunity to serve a large number of
varying types of clients. I was hired early in my career by one these clients in the technology
industry and spent the remainder of my 42 year career serving as CFO for two other technology
companies.
I have 2 wonderful sons, 2 beautiful daughters-in-law and a granddaughter whom I absolutely
adore. In my spare time, I love doing all kinds of crafting– especially making and teaching
others to make elaborate greeting cards. I am a lifelong- learner, and love to master new
things, and especially use this to grow my faith and share what I learn with others through Bible
Study. My favorite saying from one of my fellow bible study buddies is that “I leak when I don’t
stay in the Word!”
I’ve served and chaired various committees at the churches I’ve attended and currently serve
on the Board of Church Together. I found out about The Table Florida through Marilyn who has
been one of my bible study friends for the last several years. I was looking for a worthwhile
place to volunteer in my retirement years where I could make an impact and fell in love with
this amazing organization from the very start. Every moment I spend serving at The Table
provides me with incredible joy and untold blessings through the people I meet and serve! And
I pray that God uses me to bless others as I have been blessed.

Jesse Stokes – VP

Jesse came to the Orlando area to attend UCF in 2013, fell in love with the area and has stayed ever since. He is currently getting his Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from UCF, and has a passion for creating equitable communities. Jesse helped start The Table in 2019 and has been changed by the people he meets there every week. Jesse loves his wife and fellow board member, Sarah, his cats, UCF, Football, and all things Orlando. 

Art Woodruff – Director 

Art was born and raised in Sanford and is a sixth-generation resident. He has taught science and computer science in Seminole County Public Schools for 38 years. 

Art and his wife Patti have two children, Daniel and Rachel. Patti is a home health care nurse, Daniel is in law school, and Rachel just graduated and is embarking on a career in editing. 

Art was elected Mayor of Sanford in 2022 after having served four terms as a commissioner.

In addition to teaching and serving Sanford on the City Commission, Art is a board member and volunteer for Historic Hopper Academy, the Ritz Theater Sanford, The Table Florida, and 787 Scouting Association. Art spends a lot of his free time working with Boy Scouts or helping renovate and maintain Hopper Academy and enjoys fishing, diving, and camping.

Volunteers!

Because of the kindness and generosity of many individuals, The Table has gathered week after week for 4 years now. With an all volunteer team of directors, bakers, cooks, servers, musicians, speakers, drivers and essential items staff, community is built and lives are changed. Over the past 4 years volunteers have given over 19,000 hours of service.

Want to know more? contact us!