Yesterday I delved into the [strange and unusual world of knock off products](https://steemit.com/funny/@striderpunk/knock-on-effect-of-knock-offs) and why perhaps it's so prevalent in certain markets. 

Though I stand by the fact that to combat the corruption large, sweeping changes need to be made from the top down; I been thinking that small, incremental efforts could also have an impact from the bottom up.

![20190514_133425.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZCvgLPbXZE57NWb9tXnnjiwSVvjiCRoizC5kERLRfC5r/20190514_133425.jpg)

Yes, in a way buying cheaply produced goods does feel like a hack, but only if the consumer feels duped. 

I am in by no means wealthy, but I can afford the basic amenities and necessities to provide for myself and my family, and even treat my kids to [a vastly overpriced Lego set](https://tastythailand.com/where-to-buy-lego-in-bangkok-thailand-its-expensive/) once in a blue moon.

However, for a multitude of other kids less fortunate *The Changeable Robot* is as good as three Christmases and  five birthdays put together!
<center> http://www.therobotspajamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Transformers_toys_bootleg_knock-off_3.jpg [src](http://www.therobotspajamas.com/the-best-of-the-worst-transformers-knock-off-toys/) </center>

With that in mind, My wife and I sorted through our stuff. Kids clothes that were too small or seldom worn and toys that we thought the boys didn't need anymore (*shh they don't need to know*) were packed up and put in the trunk of the car.

![20190514_133558.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRmPHDWsZjZHiYqjBTGTTc4qyWSFK8FH3zSR3kwgJxz7n/20190514_133558.jpg)

I had some business at the local immigration office (*always **LOADS** of fun*) but luckily our destination wasn't far away.

Krabi Protection Center for the Destitute houses orphans awaiting a family or a for a vacancy  in any of the local [Children's Homes](https://warmheartworldwide.org/childrens-homes/) which are often at maximum capacity.

https://www.volunteerthailand.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Childrens-Home-Thailand-Volunteer.jpg
[src](https://www.volunteerthailand.org/projects/volunteer-childrens-home/)

While we didn't linger long, we did see a few of the children hanging around shyly. There were also a few boys helping to move bricks for a floral arrangement up front. Their eyes lit up when they saw the box of toys I was carrying in.  

<center> ![20190514_134327.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcr32n8xS4VWShNUnhXvbN2YuQc9arx5pcqscBpmERGv2/20190514_134327.jpg)
![20190514_134330.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNs3MDagvNwNQtapx91EQiRNdH984WGxe8Q33nw1HuusA/20190514_134330.jpg) </center>

When we were waiting for the caretaker to come, we saw an infant in a stroller. He wasn't even two weeks old. Very tiny. He had been found a few days earlier [abandoned in a laundry mat washing machine](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/foodanddrink/baby-abandoned-in-washing-machine-is-saved-by-shopkeeper/vi-AAB1kuz).. I was heartbroken for this child but at the same time grateful that he had been found on time and was healthy.  

<center> ![baby.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSMdnthCYybh7KavCcgE9kfet4kffoDePtyEByWBxNovc/baby.jpg)![washingmachine.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYQJXDLzMaFwE5VSj96yf115ofTAwDnY5uXfVmx8wqLCu/washingmachine.jpg) 
[src both](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7001079/Thailand-baby-umbilical-cord-attached-alive-WASHING-MACHINE.html) </center>

These are the simple things that we can do, be it donating clothes and toys to orphans, volunteering in a school for mentally-disabled children, delivering food and water to small villages that have been devastated by natural disasters, or helping the local hospital fit free prosthetics of a group amputee victims.

It did not take much time or effort and there is a whole bunch more that I could and should do to help, but I'd like to believe that even the small things **_make a difference..._**

<center> ![15823601_10211708421608105_1949341594617866484_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVMHDFsrBPsW4i77XamQQ3SiPECvbnYpHDwWxpwkKwyQJ/15823601_10211708421608105_1949341594617866484_n.jpg)![15826708_10211708422168119_8837794860908207319_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUbVtv4dY3eKDG8nxFSaCizFKvMqJwsEqN1QFsMQKXCiM/15826708_10211708422168119_8837794860908207319_n.jpg)![15977453_10211778586202176_2096762089095511422_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXiPvH1myaEtwfkuKnG7o5mgcf3yWrj4vkz14GxoaksvZ/15977453_10211778586202176_2096762089095511422_n.jpg)![12512293_10208431290321871_5619707034293110333_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZpLGi84o99JRiDqKB5KvZQP6fNocfwaNPMYe8Z5c9kd2/12512293_10208431290321871_5619707034293110333_n.jpg)![12418087_10208431290441874_2805170607513277602_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfL3uKHJpRWfEkxWPvpMYBy1RnrR86cmGkaT3HekXaLUe/12418087_10208431290441874_2805170607513277602_n.jpg)
![15578404_10211591453683980_5503027408315017545_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmY1yqFXYRgLGY2FP77t7hqAe7XoctjigrGRBbQEbNvsUM/15578404_10211591453683980_5503027408315017545_n.jpg)![15578795_10211591452923961_4185559355633627349_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfGw3YMRX7699ZzPrKt7CfDLDkF372Dea3xFjyWABcVNw/15578795_10211591452923961_4185559355633627349_n.jpg)
*unsourced pictures are my own*</center>
<center><h2>**..no better day than today..**</h2></center>