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Full disclosures.

Important information about Ask Helping Hand, its services, limitations and referral practices.

Last updated: 2026

Company Structure

I CARE AMERICA INC DBA askhelpinghand.com is a privately held limited liability company, funded by its members. Mailing address: 5879 NEW PEACHTREE RD STE B ATLANTA, GA 30340.

What We Do

Ask Helping Hand is a free information and referral service. When you call us, a trained team member listens to your situation and tells you which federal programs (SNAP, LIHEAP, Section 8, ACA, Medicaid, FAFSA, etc.), local food banks, and verified hotlines may match what you're going through. We may follow up by phone or email to see whether you got through. That's the service.

What We Do Not Do

We want to be unambiguous about this:

  • We do not pay rent, utility bills, insurance premiums, medical bills, or any other expenses.
  • We do not issue checks, gift cards, loans, or financial aid of any kind.
  • We do not submit forms or documents on our customers' behalf. All communication with any government, state, or private agency must be done directly by you, and all documentation must be submitted directly by you to that agency.
  • We do not represent or speak for any other organization.
  • We do not collect fees from customers for our service.

NOT a 501(c)(3)

We are NOT a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations or contributions made directly to Ask Helping Hand are not tax-deductible. We do not file IRS Form 990 and do not have nonprofit board oversight.

NOT a Government Agency

Ask Helping Hand is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operating on behalf of any federal, state, or local government agency , including but not limited to: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Department of Education, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), or any state or county social services department.

The programs we discuss on our website (SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicaid, Section 8, FAFSA, etc.) are operated by federal or state government agencies, and you may apply for those programs directly through official government portals at no cost.

Licensing & Scope

We are an information and referral service. We are not licensed as — and our activities do not require licensing as — any of the following:

  • Food establishment. We do not handle, store, prepare, sell, or distribute food. We do not operate a food pantry, food bank, kitchen, or meal service. We maintain a directory of independent third-party food banks and explain federal nutrition programs (SNAP, WIC), but the food itself is provided by those independent organizations and federal/state programs — not by us.
  • Money services business or money transmitter. We do not transmit, transfer, hold, store, exchange, deposit, withdraw, or process money or monetary value on behalf of any person. We do not issue checks, money orders, payment cards, or stored-value instruments. We do not cash checks, send remittances, or facilitate payments. We do not handle customer funds at any point.
  • Debt management, debt settlement, credit counseling, or debt-relief services. We do not enter into Debt Management Plans, negotiate with creditors, consolidate debt, settle debt for less than the amount owed, or charge any fee for debt-related advice. When debt is discussed, we refer callers to independent NFCC-member nonprofit credit counseling agencies, free legal aid networks, and federal consumer protection resources.
  • Lender, broker, financial advisor, investment adviser, or insurance producer. We do not originate, broker, or service loans. We do not provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. We do not sell insurance.

The services that actually do the work — food banks, credit counseling agencies, lenders, attorneys, and licensed insurers — are independent third parties we refer callers to. They have their own licensing, regulatory oversight, and accountability. We do not represent or act on behalf of any of them.

No Compensation From Referrals

We do not receive commission, kickbacks, or any form of compensation from federal or state agencies, nonprofits, hotlines, food banks, or other organizations we refer you to. Our referrals are based solely on what we believe will help your situation.

Approval & Outcomes

Because we do not provide direct financial assistance, there is no application to approve. Anyone can call us for free information. The programs we refer you to have their own eligibility requirements, application processes, and approval timelines that we do not control. We make no guarantee that any program we refer you to will ultimately approve you.

Response Time

During business hours (Mon–Fri 9am–6pm CT), call wait times average under three minutes. Outside business hours, leave a voicemail or use our callback form and a team member will call you back within one business day.

Privacy & Data

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We share information only when needed to help find programs that fit your situation, and only with your consent. See our full Privacy Policy for details.

SMS / Phone Communications

If you opt in to receive SMS or phone communications from us, you agree we may contact the phone number provided regarding your callback request. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to any message to opt out at any time.

Questions

If you have questions about these disclosures or our practices, please email info@askhelpinghand.com or call (855) 216-7634 .