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What should I not ask for?
The boundary is not squeamishness. It is what a neighbor can safely do.
Short answer
Do not use Help Me for emergencies, paid work, licensed trades, rides for hire, medical or legal advice, anything illegal, or requests that put a stranger alone in a private space with you. Those need 911, a professional, or a service designed for them. Help Me is small, everyday, public-by-default help between adults.
The facts, in one place
- Emergencies go to 911, 988, or campus safety.
- No paid jobs — the app has no payments at all.
- No electrical, plumbing, mechanical, medical, or legal work.
- Public places by default; keep private-space requests off the app.
The four categories that are always no
Emergencies, because nobody is on call. Paid work, because there is no payment layer and no worker protection. Licensed trades and professional advice, because an approved neighbor is not a credentialed professional and treating them like one hurts both people. Anything illegal, which needs no further explanation.
- Emergency, medical, or crisis response
- Paid tasks, gig work, hauling for hire, or a ride for money
- Electrical, plumbing, roofing, mechanical repair, childcare, or pet boarding
- Medical, legal, financial, or immigration advice
- Anything illegal, or anything you would not do in a lit parking lot
The judgment-call zone
A hand carrying boxes to a doorway is normal. A stranger spending two hours alone in your apartment is not what this is for. If a request only works when nobody else can see it, that is the signal to stop and use a service built for it.
Questions people actually ask
Can I ask for help moving apartments?
A hand with a few heavy items is reasonable. A full move is a job for movers or friends you can feed.
What if someone asks me for something off-limits?
Decline, then report and block. Both are one tap from the request.
Keep going
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What can I actually ask for?
Everyday, non-emergency help: a jump start, a hand lifting something, directions, a walk to your car, printing, tech help, or a study session in Fargo–Moorhead.
safety
Help Me is not 911
Help Me is for everyday, non-emergency help in Fargo–Moorhead. If you are in danger, call 911. Here is how to tell the difference.
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Can I pay someone who helps me?
No. Help Me has no payments, tipping, or fees. Helpers are approved community members giving everyday help, not contractors being hired for a task.
trust
Safety, said plainly
Approximate location, approved helpers only, private chat, public meeting places, and report/block tools. Help Me is not 911.
legal
Terms of Service
Terms for the Help Me TestFlight beta.
safety
How to stay safe while asking for a hand
Meet in public, keep exact location off until you consent, and use report and block. Help Me is not 911 — call official help first if you are in danger.
Help Me is a community app for adults in Fargo–Moorhead. It is not a K–12 student program, not a youth chat, and not campus police.