Write an email to receive a love letter

What would you think if a stranger handed you a piece of paper on the street that turned out to be a sweet, but rather soppy, love letter?

A long lost boyfriend, perhaps? A stalker, maybe? Or just a promotion-savvy marketing dude from New York wanting to make you smile?

It is most likely the latter. Jake Bronstein, a 30-year-old from Brooklyn who has come up with the unique concept of sending 1,000 strangers a love letter with the simple premise of making them happy.

“I was watching a clip about that guy who went around giving everyone free hugs and how it made people feel good,” Mr Bronstein told Times Online on Thursday from his home in New York.

“And then there was this study I read which said that when you do a good deed for someone not only do your endorphin levels rise, but so do theirs, and anybody who sees it also has that same chemical reaction.

“So I thought: what could I do to make people feel happy?”

Mr Bronstein, who runs a marketing agency, came up with his love letter plan after trialling a small version on the streets outside his Brooklyn office. He and an intern tried to hand out 30 love letters to total strangers – but everyone refused the romantic gesture, scared off by a stranger approaching them with a piece of paper.

So, last November, he went online and wrote about it in his blog – on zoomdoggle.com, a website he updates hourly with ‘fun’ things people can read while they’re at work – and offered to send a love letter to 1,000 readers if they sent him their address.

The response was immediate. He has so far received 800 addresses from people all over the world, from America and Canada to Russia and Norway, and as far as Malaysia and Australia. ‘Jo’ from Nottingham in England has also requested an anonymous love letter.

Some requests have come from love-sick men and women wanting attention, some are from friends offering the addresses of their loves ones, and one came from a mother in Sydney pleading: “Maybe you guys could brighten my daughter’s day?”

Like Juan Mann, the Sydney man who came up with the ‘free hugs’ concept, and Matt Harding, the American who danced his way around the world on the campaign that become known as ‘where the hell is Matt?’, Mr Bronstein’s quirky concept is fast gaining momentum on the internet. Traffic to his website has increased dramatically and after one TV appearance in Australia this week he received over 100 love letter requests before lunchtime.

Mr Bronstein insists he is not doing it for money or fame – while he estimates the cost of posting 1,000 letters around the world will be over £500 ($US700), he says he has the postage expense covered.

He has enlisted his friends and family to help write the letters, and most importantly his girlfriend Kristina Hoge, who sits down with him for an hour every night to help pen the love notes to strangers. And yes, occasionally they slip a love letter to each other.

Mr Bronstein estimates it will take another 200 man hours to complete the mission, after which he hopes to instigate a love letter-swapping group on the social networking site Facebook to get others to continue making people smile around the globe.

“People are starting to think of me as the love expert now,” laughs Mr Bronstein, who had previously received two love letters from ex-girlfriends.

“I’m now known as ‘the love letter guy’. But what do I know about love?”

See for yourself. Here are some examples of the letters:

Dear You,
How do you write a love letter to a stranger? You don't. But you're not strange at all, you're lovely. Lovely face, lovely smile, lovely way... it's why you're lovable. I'd heard it said, but I didn't believe it until the other day when you did that thing you do. Thanks.
Love,
Me

Dear You,
If you were cold, I would do my best to warm you up. If you were sad, I'd do that dance you seem to like. If you were broke, I'd give you money. You're worth it because you're awesome (good looking, charming, and fun). Even writing this made me smile. That is so you. Thanks.
Love,
Zoomdoggle

Dear You,
This is the 100th time I've tried writing this note. The first 20 felt too mushy. The next 30 didn't express how awesome I think you are. There were misspellings in 20 (probably this one too). And somehow the next 29 were more about me than you. I know you'll understand though, and know exactly what it is I'm trying to say. That's why loving you is so easy! And I do. Thanks.
Love,
Me

Times Recommends

• Rio Tinto four held as China prepares case
• Diplomats must keep heads down and trousers up
• When in Rome should one make like Berlusconi?