I would definitely not leave out parcels in the middle of the street that you can't see what it is! I would be petrified if I saw something like that! But I leave books on trains etc. We also have a book shelf at work that staff can use.  

As for books, we donate our no longer needed books to our local library.  They either add them to their shelves or sell them at the annual old book sale.  

I live in St. Louis and just last month some one left a nicely wrapped package with balloons in a parking garage and when it was opened it blew the mans hands and face off. I don't think leaving packages around the city is a good idea unless you want the bomb squad to show up.

What Anna and Jolene said. Leaving packages around, as well-intentioned as you may be, in this day and age it's just a good way to freak out a lot of people :(

Yeah.. I wouldn't go leaving these around town. Doesn't anybody remember the mario question blocks left around town that landed 2 or 3 kids in court? They may have actually been charged, I never did see the follow up.

Also check out Operation Christmas Child:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

It's a reputable charity that collects shoeboxes of gifts across America to send to children internationally.

I love the part baout leaving the gifts in unexpected areas like newspaper boxes. Maybe you cna keep a few small ones on hand if you're in the city and give it to panhandlers.

I wouldn't go leaving packages at bus stops willy-nilly... Having the police block off the area and send in the bomb squad is not cool.

Otherwise, I think it's a great idea.