“What can Brown do for you?”, the UPS slogan poses to potential customers.

Well, not much in terms of providing self defense tools to Chicagoans, it seems.

Troubled over stories of people being attacked, including various incidents on the 606 trail, UPS store owner Tom Bellino decided to add pepper spray to his shelves for his customers. Stocking the product in his UPS store on Milwaukee Avenue in Bucktown with the safety of young moms and nannies in mind paid off: the products sold out.

When he went to restock the self defense products, he quickly learned he was no longer able to sell pepper spray in his Chicago, IL store. Undeterred, Bellino was more concerned about his community than what his corporate office thought – so he decided to give it away.

“You can’t make money at everything you do. You’ve got to give back sometimes,” he said.

Bellino said within hours of announcing his pepper spray giveaway online, they had all been spoken for, giving away an impressive 36 cans on Wednesday alone. The caring Chicago business owner said he hopes to go ahead with more giveaways in the future.

Score one for the little guy! Well done, Mr. Bellino.