It can be intimidating to ask your community for help, but don't worry—people sign up for Switchboard explicitly to help you out.
Here's how to make your Ask most effective:
Be clear about what kind of help you are looking for
Provide some background as to why you need it
Share your appreciation for their help and consideration
And remember to search existing posts for people who may have posted Offers about the subject or posted Asks about similar things before.
Here are some good example Asks to get you started: