A: HRT is short for Hormone Replacement Therapy, which is also known as Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT). HRT also happens to be the beginning letters of Harm Reduction Toolkit. So we’re playing a bit with words and acronyms here. Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy has been linked to better mental health outcomes for trans and nonbinary people, lowering suicidal ideation and increasing happiness. You can find out more about this via the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey.

A: We do not distribute hormones. We only assemble the sundries needed to administer hormone replacement therapy. These include syringes, needles in various gauges, disinfectant wipes, and a sharps disposal container to safely dispose of needles. Each kit provides supplies for one trans person for one year. A regular, accessible, affordable supply of clean needles is essential to reduce the harms associated with needle reuse and sharing.

A: While $65 for yearly supplies may not seem like a lot of money for many people, it’s an expense that many trans people who are already more likely to be in precarious economical situations cannot cover. This may force them to choose between important medical care and buying groceries. They also generally end up paying much more than $65 because they cannot afford to buy supplies in one go, which drives up the price. Thanks to our extensive aid partners and grassroots network, Distribute Aid can source these supplies far more efficiently, effectively bringing the actual price per kit down further to $10 per kit.

A: Distribute Aid sources the materials (in-kind donations or financial donations that enable us to buy the resources), which are then assembled by volunteers in various production hubs around the southern US. The kits are then sent to various established frontline partners, such as community organisations or mutual aid hubs, who then distribute them to trans people within their communities.

A: We’re currently covering areas in the southern US. We may consider extending coverage as this project continues to grow.

A: If you are in need of an HRT Harm Reduction Toolkit, we recommend getting in touch with your local frontline organisation, mutual aid hub, etc. and asking them if they want to get involved. Frontline groups can then reach out to us to sign up to become distributors for these kits. We do not advertise the kits to individuals! Please do not reach out to Distribute Aid directly to get a kit.

A: The escalating attacks on transgender people in the US after November 2024 led to our decision to do something to specifically support trans people. We started our campaign in December 2024 and fairly quickly raised an impressive amount of funds, which we then put to use sourcing the materials needed to safely administer gender-affirming hormone therapy or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Thanks to our established network of partners and our experience distributing aid worldwide we can source ingredients at a much lower cost. In addition, we collect in-kind donations as well. The toolkits are assembled by volunteers in various hubs and are then distributed to trans people in need for free by frontline organisations. We plan to keep this project going as long as we can and as long as it’s needed and will be looking into extending the reach of the project whenever possible.

A: Please reach out to hello@distributeaid.org.