(KTLA) — A Hollywood veteran is helping freshmen at historically Black universities and colleges get off to a stress-free start.

The students, who come from challenging backgrounds, are determined to succeed. So, the “Move-In Day Mafia,” founded by TeeJ Mercer, surprises them with a full ride of much-needed supplies for their new dorm rooms, along with love and support.

The raw emotion of having someone believe in you and your future is palpable.

Mykia Carpenter couldn’t hold back the tears after seeing her new dorm room at Paul Quinn College in Dallas. It’s an experience more and more young men and women are getting, thanks to Mercer, who is now based in Atlanta.

“My role is to make sure these kids make it to graduation,” Mercer said. “My role is to make sure these kids know, at least for this pocket of time, that somebody saw them. Somebody held their vision. Somebody held space for them. So that they know there are people who care and are willing to do something about it.”

Mercer founded Move-In Day Mafia in 2022 to help foster youth, unhoused youth, or those experiencing financial problems by turning their dorm rooms into a home.

In 2022, the non-profit helped 13 students at historically Black colleges and universities. That number more than doubled in 2023. In 2024, the number of scholars helped by Move-In Day Mafia jumped to 40 at 21 different schools, including Fisk University in Tennessee, where Jeremiah Armstead now plays basketball.

Jeremiah was homeless before he came to Fisk, all the way from Los Angeles. The Move-In Day Mafia team brought warmth and laughter to his dorm room.

When Move-In Day Mafia and Mercer tackle someone’s dorm room, the students can be assured of a few things: a pleasant atmosphere to rest and study and the biggest hug ever provided by someone investing in their future.

“When you are in survival mode, you can’t create, you can’t think clearly. We’re taking these kids out of survival mode to make sure they’re not stressed about things we take for granted,” Mercer added.

The Move-In Day Mafia could use donations and your time to help more students in need. You can sign up to donate or volunteer at moveindaymafia.org.