70 years of volunteers
It all started in 1955 when eight community-minded women came together to volunteer their time, warmth, and cheer to help patients at Peninsula Community Hospital — now known as Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.
They called themselves the Auxiliary, known for their cheery red uniforms and ever-present smiles. That group quickly grew, evolving into Montage Health Foundation’s modern-day volunteer program.
In 2025, that program celebrated its 70th anniversary, with more than 500 volunteers contributing their time, kindness, and compassion across Montage Health. In the past two years alone, they logged 170,916 hours of service.
“We’ve always been shaped by the community we serve,” says Michele Melicia Young, director of Montage Health Foundation. “When people volunteer, they become part of the healing that happens here.”
While other volunteer services have emerged, the Auxiliary remains a core part of the hospital experience — think gift shop, visitor services, and patient support — bringing a familiar presence to staff and patients.
In addition to the Auxiliary, volunteers provide services including:
“We try to match the needs of the healthcare system with the desire of the community member who wants to volunteer,” Young says. “For instance, we have several volunteers who specifically focus on supporting veterans in hospice and honoring their service. We also have volunteers training to be art docents, so they can give tours of the art at the hospital to brighten the days of patients, their families, and visitors.”
The volunteer program also cultivates a local healthcare workforce by giving high school and collegiate volunteers exposure to the many inner workings of a healthcare system, from surgery and radiology to finance, marketing, and beyond.
“Volunteering gives people purpose,” Young says. “And for many students, it’s also a pathway to a career in healthcare.”
Meet Auxiliary volunteer Scott Clegg
“. . . we’re making a real difference in someone’s life.”
— Scott Clegg, Montage Health Foundation Auxiliary volunteer
Ironically, Scott Clegg found his volunteer calling when the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily paused the volunteer program.
“He walked into our COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Marina and simply asked, ‘How can I help?’” Young recalls.
Clegg, who served as Auxiliary president in 2024 and 2025, also volunteers in Community Hospital’s emergency department. If he has a love language, it’s “acts of service.”
His journey to Montage Health came on the heels of a 2019 retirement from a 30-year career at Marina Police Department.
“I took about a year off,” he says. “But I wanted to do something besides sitting at home.”
That’s when he showed up to the Marina vaccine clinic.
“Whether it’s law enforcement or volunteering in a hospital, it’s all about working with people and trying to make things better,” Clegg says. “When I was with the police department, a lot of times, I saw people at their worst. At the hospital, sometimes we also see people at their worst, especially in the emergency department. We’re trying to comfort people, ease their stress.”
Clegg says being an Auxiliary volunteer, and having served at the helm for the 70th anniversary celebration, has been extremely fulfilling. He’s especially grateful for the time he spent volunteering in the emergency department.
“One of my most profound volunteer experiences was when we had just done some training on stroke recognition,” Clegg says. “A week later, a patient came to the door exhibiting stroke symptoms. I told the nurse, and it turned out the person was having a stroke. That’s one of the things I like about volunteering — we’re making a real difference in someone’s life.”
Volunteer with Montage Health Foundation
Whether you’re a retiree looking to give back, a teen exploring a future in healthcare, or someone who just loves helping others, there’s a place for you in Montage Health Foundation’s volunteer family. Opportunities include:
- Services within the emergency department, cancer center, gift shop, and visitor services
- Patient companion and telephone check-in support
- Therapy dog visits
- Hospice and palliative care services, including vigiling and visits
- Healthcare career development programs for students and aspiring professionals
Become a volunteer
