On a Friday night in 2021, Jamie Volpert opened a handwritten thank-you letter addressed to his property, Tropical Smoothie Café. The writer thanked Volpert for being so close to IU Health Joe and Shelly Schwarz Cancer Center because her mom enjoying a smoothie after chemo was such a wonderful thing for her. The person who wrote the note said they were not only delicious, but they also helped relieve much-needed dry mouth caused by treatments.
All weekend, Volpert thought about the paper and how something so small could make such a difference in someone’s life.
On Monday, he walked into the Schwarz Cancer Center and asked to speak to someone about donating vitamins to patients on a regular basis.
“I will never forget that day,” said Ann Bredensteiner, manager of Volunteers and Integrative Health.
“Jamie said, ‘I’m your neighbor and I watched the facility being built.’ He told me about the bill and said with tears in his eyes: ‘I need more in my life. This is good stuff.’”
Tropical Smoothie Café now offers monthly smoothies to patients who are receiving fluids and radiation therapy or have completed laboratory work. Volpert also surprised IU Health members with a smoothie.
“I’m not sure who is more delighted, patients or volunteers to get them out,” Bredensteiner said. “Everybody loves Tropical Smoothie Day. The name is also fun. Jetty Punch, Mango Magic and Blimey Limey are the most popular.”
The fact that the smoothies were given away only added to the appreciation. Infusion patients can see the cafe from a second-floor window.
Although Volpert is busy with four stores and contracts with several sports teams—as well as opening stores in Whitestown and Noblesville—he says, monthly donations are a priority.
“That thank you letter really pushed me to take action,” he said. “I’m so glad I did.”
