On October 1-8 (or 1-7, depending on which source you look at) the Harry Potter Alliance ran its Magical Acts of Kindness Campaign. The idea is to do creative, anonymous acts of kindness.
More Info: http://www.thehpalliance.org/acciobooks/

Goal: 1 MAK a day and 1 book released for each
MAKs Done: 8
Humane Society Thank You, Any Soldier Packages,
AIDS Walk, HP Goodies, Thanking Library Volunteer,
Notes in Books, Feedback Online, Happy Comic Book Day

Humane Society Thank You
Thursday, October 1, 2009
As I care a lot about animals, I wanted to do a magical act of kindness relating to animals. Conveniently, down the road from where I work is the Humane Society of Fairfax County. As I wanted this to be anonymous, I decided against a donation check. Instead, I wrote out a nice thank you card and bundled it with the BookCrossing book I'd set aside for this MAK (I'm releasing one book into the wild for each act of kindness): Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul. The thank you note reads as follows:

I headed over to the Humane Society during my lunch break. The top floor of the building is where the animals are. The bottom floor is the thrift store. I was sure I'd be spotted if I went upstairs as there is a front desk. But on the bottom floor, at the base of the stairs, is a door leading to a room with an Employees Only sign. So I snuck down the stairs and left the book and note leaning against the door. Then I darted back to my car before anyone could spot me.

     

Book released: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul

Any Soldier Packages
Friday, October 2, 2009
I haven't sent a package through AnySoldier.com in quite some time. I went to the website and skimmed through the listings of soldiers in need of mail. I like to choose units from my state, Virginia, so I can write a note and let them know what it's like back home. As two different listings jumped out at me and I just couldn't choose between them, I decided to send out two packages instead of just one. I went shopping and got tons of goodies for the soldiers off their wish lists. It's not completely anonymous as I have to put a return address on the package and sign a customs form so the packages will get to Iraq & Afghanistan. But they're strangers to me, so I figure this still counts as a magical act of kindness.

Sending to Jon A Davidson Navy, Iraq Books Candy (3) Chapstick DVD- Million Dollar Baby Halloween Decorations Microwave Popcorn Sunflower Seeds Trail Mix

Sending to Edilma L. Martinez Army, Iraq Axe hygene kits Books Chapstick Deodorant- Mens & Women's Halloween Decorations Razors Toothbrushes

Book released: many

AIDS Walk Washington
Saturday, October 3, 2009
I've been participating in AIDS Walk Washington nearly every year since 1997. Most years I volunteer at the walk but this year I also raised money as if I were walking. Friends & family donated at my page here: http://tinyurl.com/KKAidsWalk. I raised $415 before the date, which is fantastic. As all the money gets donated electronically and I wasn't there as a walker, it's as anonymous as I could get. And I'm quite happy to be able to help raise money to help those at Whitman-Walker Clinic and to Fight AIDS!

5 squares from the AIDS Memorial Quilt were on display at the walk. So I read through a book I had and wrote out a note on a Whitman-Walker notecard. The note in the book reads as follows:

I put the note in the book and left it right by the quilt squares. I don't know who picked it up, but it was gone at the end of the Walk and I hope someone enjoys it. About 7,000 people turned out for the walk and we raised about $800,000. It's the best turnout we've had in years.

   
       

Book released: The Quilt: Stories from the Names Project

Goodies for WRock Fans!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sadly, I wasn't able to travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday to go to the Whomp the House concert in Elizabethtown. But I put together a small pile of Harry Potter goodies anyway for the great Wizard Rock fans who showed up to support our musicians & the Harry Potter Alliance. It was really nice to be able to give some of my Harry Potter items a new home with people who'd enjoy them. Wizard Rocker Snidget was kind enough to act as my owl. She picked up the goodies from me and took them to the concert to distribute as a MAK. And I was able to stay anonymous (at least, until now when I'm writing this up-- oops).

I noticed one person's tweet about it today, so I guess Snidget pulled it off! Thank you!

HPAJenni @TheHPAlliance I witnessed a #MAK @ Whomp the House in Etown. Someone was handing out sm gifts on another person's behalf. It was so sweet!

Book released: The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter & others

Thanking Library Volunteers
Monday, October 5, 2009
On Mondays after work I volunteer at Kings Park Library (and I volunteer at Pohick Library on Saturday mornings). I always notice an empty candy jar at the volunteer station. And it's always tough finding pens to use when signing in and marking books off lists (due to budget cuts, the library is cutting back on so much; pens are the least I could do). So I bought some candy and some pens to spruce the volunteer station up a bit. I left a book-related book there as well for whoever wants it. Before I left (not pictured) I wrote a quick note thanking the volunteers for all the work they do.

Before & After:
 

Book released: In What Book?

Inspirational Notes in Books
Monday, October 5, 2009 & Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I figured that, as I was going to the library anyway, I would find some inspirational quotes, cut them into strips, and place them in some of my favorite books at the library. So I printed up some quotes during my lunch break today at work and before my volunteer shift began, I placed them into books. I put them in every copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and Looking for Alaska they had at the library. I also put one in The House at Pooh Corner and another in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I had so much fun doing this (and only 10 slips of paper to work with) that I just had to do it again! I printed out another 30 slips and hit the library again on Tuesday. This time I slipped one into the rest of the Harry Potter books on the shelves, as well as some of my favorite adult books (like Ishmael) and the Lord of the Rings. I put one in all the copies of Stargirl and some other young adult books I've read, including The Golden Compass, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The City of Ember, Eldest, Treasure Island, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Inkheart. I also put one in a book and slipped it onto the sale shelf at the library.

The quotes I used: 10 Inspirational Quotes (pdf)

       

Book released: The Midnight Club

Leaving Feedback
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I thought it would be great to so something nice for my fellow fanfic writers online. So I created some anonymous accounts and spent a few hours leaving feedback for writers and artists online. I ended up leaving feedback for 17 stories, 1 poem, and 17 art pieces. So that's 35 fan creations out there that have been appreciated and, I hope, 35 smiles from the people who created the work. Example of what I wrote at the end of each piece of feedback:

This "anonymous" feedback was left for you as a Magical Act of Kindness, part of the Harry Potter Alliance's current campaign.

User icon:


Book released: None, as it was an online project.
But I brought a box of books to my writers group, so maybe that can count.

Happy Comic Book Day
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I got this idea from the people who suggested paying the toll at a tollbooth for the person behind you or paying for the coffee of the customer behind you. I neither have a toll plaza I go through regularly nor drink coffee. Wednesdays are new comics days. I wanted to do something to make some of my local fellow geeks happy. During my lunch break I went to my usual comic book store and bought some comics. I waited a while for the shop to mostly clear out. Then I went to make my purchase. I handed the clerk my card and then asked if he and the shop owner (who was sitting behind him) could help me out. I held up a $20 bill. "I'm doing this random, magical act of kindness thing and was wondering if you could help me out. If I give you this twenty dollars, could you give $5 off the purchases of your next four customers?" They both looked a little stunned for a moment as they considered their answer, but it only took two seconds for them to agree with a "Yeah, sure we can do that." I thanked them, signed my receipt, and took my comics. "Thank you," the clerk told me. "And I'm sure these people will thank you, too." I smiled. "I hope it makes their days a little brighter!" Then I left the store and set a book on the windowledge as my last BookCrossing release for the MAKs.

Right across from the store is a pediatrician's office and there was a woman with a stroller, attempting to back out of the door but having some trouble doing that. I waited a beat then walked over and opened the door the whole way, asking if I could help. It wasn't anonymous, obviously, as she could see me there. But helping her out seemed like the perfect way to end a week of acts of kindness :-)

Book released: X-Men: The Avengers : Friend or Foe?