Local student spends Spring Break rebuilding the Jersey Shore

HOPATCONG — Instead of partying, Hopatcong native Hayley Vicedomini opted to spend her Spring Break rebuilding homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy as part of MTV's Spring Fix.

"I got involved with MTV's Spring Fix because the Jersey Shore is my home away from home," said Vicedomini, 21, a Hoptacong High School graduate and now a senior at Montclair University who is majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Preschool to third grade. "I have vacationed there every summer since I was born. Once I saw the devastation that was left from Hurricane Sandy, I knew that these areas needed help. Once I saw this opportunity with MTV and United Way to help fix up the shore, I couldn't pass it up."

Vicedomini was selected out of thousands of applicants to be involved in MTV's Spring Fix program — an alternative spring break where MTV teamed up with United Way and mtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network, to bring 50 college students from around the country to the New York / New Jersey area during March to help rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

"I was honestly shocked that I was picked," said Vicedomini. "I figured since I didn't have experience with construction that I wouldn't be chosen. But when explaining my reasoning why I wanted to help, I guess my story stuck out compared to others."

Celebrities also joined the efforts, including MTV’s Andrew Jenks “World of Jenks,” Vinny Guadagnino and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, former “Jersey Shore” stars, New York Giants All-Pro Defensive End Justin Tuck, “The Challenges” alums Kenny Santucci and Evan Starkman, and Averey Tressler and Johnny Reilly from the upcoming season of “Real World Portland.”

Vicedomini was placed in a team of 10 students and two team leaders, where they helped out in the Lavalette/Ortley Beach area.

"Our mission was to help rebuild an elderly couple’s home which had been flooded with water, since the bay was their backyard. When we arrived at the site, the house was completely gutted out. Our job was to install insulation, measure and cut out drywall, hang up and screw in the dry wall, and spackle. I didn’t have any experience with construction, so everything was new to me. I was taught how to do all these things, and by the end it was known to everyone that I had grown an attachment to the screw gun! From Monday to Friday, we accomplished putting in the insulation, covering all of the walls with drywall, and spackling almost every wall."

At the end of construction, the work was revealed to the homeowners.

"They hadn't seen the house since it had been gutted out, and when they saw all of the work we accomplished, they were so excited," Vicedomini said. "Seeing their reactions and having them express their gratitude for me and my team members made it all worth it for me."

MTV cameras were on the ground capturing all the activities, and the “Spring Fix” coverage airs during a special “Spring Break” themed week on MTV and mtvU throughout this week.

Although her week of voluteerism is completed, Vicedomini said she is now hooked on helping others.

"Spending my spring break making a difference and helping these communities in need really changed my life," Vicedomini said. "I learned a lot about myself and was able to make new friends that I already consider family. It becomes an addiction, and makes you want to help every single community in need. This experience is something that I will never forget."