NEWS 2022

June 17, 2022

SHOHOLA, PA – Greater Pike Community Foundation has as its core mission philanthropy for the long run. It’s exactly what David Greenbaum of Shohola was looking for when he went from turning clay into pots to turning dough into pasta, and back into dough again.

About six months ago this soft-spoken, meditating, boat-building, artist-turned-noodler felt he had molded enough pottery and built enough boats and now wanted to “do something fun, and share something good with the world.”

And that was when the Greenbaums of Shohola became the Noodlers Handmade Pasta of Shohola and a budding idea became a full-fledged pasta-making operation in his Shohola basement. After complying with all health and safety regulations, he started churning out pasta, packaging it and selling 1-pound bags at the Milford Farmers Market and at BetterWorld, the coffee/gift shop/bakery in Milford, PA.

He decided to donate all proceeds from the sale of the pasta to Greater Pike. “I read about Greater Pike and learned more about them and all their work seemed worthwhile,” he said, adding that he donated his first stimulus check to Greater Pike. The philanthropy and sustainable community support that is integral to Greater Pike’s success resonated with Greenbaum. And since he wasn’t making enough pasta to “broadly dispense to the world,” he decided he would keep it local.

“This is our way to scratch the itch to give back” said his son Granger Greenbaum, who recognizes the potential to grow but for now is satisfied with helping his dad mix, shape, dry, package and sell the unique brand.

“We make the pasta, Greater Pike will disperse the dough” Greenbaum joked. With proceeds donated to Greater Pike, the funds can be distributed back into the community, where the need is deemed greatest.

So exactly how does one make the leap from clay to dough? A neighbor was getting rid of a pasta maker and Greenbaum started making fresh pasta for himself and his family. He watched YouTube videos. He read, a lot. And he experimented. He invested in some new equipment and graduated to a larger pasta maker (though he still uses the small, hand-me-down model for his specialty ‘longuini’ noodles, “good for slurping.”) He opted to purchase his durum wheat/semolina from North Dakota, since it’s higher in protein and has better flavor and consistency.

The 50-pound bags are delivered to his home and he and Granger mix and make two batches per hour, 9 bags per batch. They now make and package 120 bags, which sell out weekly.

Greenbaum is delighted with his ability to create something with his family in a “joyous, lighthearted way.” Just listen to the names they came up with for their different shaped pasta: trombone and linguini and squiggilini, which is “fun to say and holds sauce really well.”

When Granger isn’t noodling, he is helping out with the publicity, social networking and bookkeeping. Greenbaum’s wife Zoe provides emotional support and helps out with sales when needed. And they all love eating the pasta!

You can find the Greenbaums and their Noodlers Handmade Pasta at the Farmer’s Market in Milford every weekend and at BetterWorld in Milford, PA.

Online donations to Greater Pike and its Funds can be made at https://greaterpike.org/fund_list/ Scroll down to the fund name for the link.

Greater Pike helps individuals, families, and local businesses to provide a permanent and personal way to give back to the community. For more information contact Jenni Hamill, Executive Director, at (570) 832-4686, jennihamill@greaterpike.org, or visit www.greaterpike.org and Facebook.com/GreaterPike.