Requests for help – from people needing food, or cash to pay their rent or utilities – are on the rise in our community, and Great Bend is not alone. Locally, we know that our Barton County Emergency Aid Association and Food Bank, Catholic Social Service and others have seen an increase in requests.Low-income households can get food stamps from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), administered by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. But cutbacks have reduced who is eligible for this help.