Active Projects

COVID-19 AND A CALL TO ACTION

March 30, 2020

Providing Meals to Emergency Workers

The COVID-19 pandemic has confined many of us to our homes, but emergency rooms are filled with people suffering from this disease. While staying home is crucial to decrease the spread of this virus, the TOS has found another way to help. To aid the emergency room workers and the local restaurants, the TOS is implementing a new program to provide vegetarian meals from local restaurants to the emergency rooms. Deliveries will be handled by the restaurants themselves. We have already contacted our first hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago, and they were overwhelmed that such a service was offered. Our goal is to make this a national program. But WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are looking for people who can coordinate with a hospital and a restaurant in their local area. It is just a matter of finding a hospital in need of such a service and a local restaurant in the same area willing to help. All of this can be done from your own home! Read more about COVID-19 AND A CALL TO ACTION

20/20 Vision on Our Earth

January 19, 2020

Have you ever wondered where all your garbage goes or whether what you put in your recycling bin actually is recycled? Perhaps it runs through your mind, but the thought quickly gets pushed aside by more “pressing” matters. We often think that once we dispose of something it is no longer our concern. The reality of waste only hits us when we see plastic islands in the ocean the size of Texas or watch the tragedy of dolphins and whales beached on our seashore. The image possibly moves us to stop using plastic and while such actions are beneficial, it is important that we try to do more. Read more about 20/20 Vision on Our Earth

Greetings from TOS Detroit!

October 9, 2018

On August 29th, 2018 Several members of TOS Detroit delivered clothes for and received a tour of The Grace Centers of Hope Shelter for Women and Children in Pontiac, MI. The warm welcome was facilitated by Olivia the Volunteer and event coordinator of Grace Centers. Olivia was happily surprised by the gracious donation of clothes purchased by TOS Detroit and funded in partnership with TOS. Read more about Greetings from TOS Detroit!

Oglala Lakota Nursing and Therapeutic Touch

July 28, 2018

It never ceases to amaze one how small the world can be. We all walk different paths, all journeying back to the same source. That difference can often be the cause for people to feel separate from one another, leading to the inability to even try to understand each other. When we take the time and really listen, we often find that we are not that different from each other. Ways of practice, culture, and even language sometimes share commonalities that one would have never thought. Read more about Oglala Lakota Nursing and Therapeutic Touch

Sir Paul’s Campaign

April 28, 2018

The TOS is always looking for interesting tidbits to pass on to readers. Here’s one from former Theosophical Society in America president Betty Bland.

In 2009, Sir Paul and his daughters Mary and Stella launched a non-profit campaign called Meat Free Monday (www.meatfreemondays.com) The website provides a number of tasty vegetarian recipes and the facts behind the universal benefits of going meat free, even for a day. Read more about Sir Paul’s Campaign

Meet Our Latest Scholarship Recipient: Joanne Thompson

February 20, 2018

My name is Joanne Thompson and I am in my last semester of the nursing program at the Oglala Lakota College. I am from a federally recognized Ojibway tribe, Pine Creek. I am one of 14 siblings and I come from a generation that lived by the old traditions. I will become the third person [in my family] to become a Registered Nurse, I have two sisters who became nurses in the 2004. Upon graduation, I plan to work on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation as a nurse. Read more about Meet Our Latest Scholarship Recipient: Joanne Thompson

Bradenton TOS Takes On Massive Library Project

From left: Judith Snow, Donna Lobdell and Ann Willig

November 16, 2017

The TS Study Centre in Bradenton, FL, has enjoyed holding their meetings at the Mitreya Center, an interfaith meeting place. A few members of the TS, however, saw an unmet need at the Mitreya Center – its library needed some TLC. Five members of the Bradenton TS/TOS group decided to take on the massive project of reorganising the Center's library, so it would be more accessible to the centre's many visitors. The group is creating a library catalogue, which will be available to the greater Bradenton community, as well. Read more about Bradenton TOS Takes On Massive Library Project

Children’s Giveaway

August 16, 2017

On the last day of the Okiciyapi “Helps One Another” Hocoki Sundance at the Rosebud Reservation, a children’s giveaway took place. The giveaway was coordinated by our dear Karen McCormick with the support of her family members. As many know, Karen has had a strong connection with the residents of the Rosebud Reservation and regularly sends items to the reservation for the Christmas Giveaway. Karen is now getting ready for the Back-to-School giveaway that helps the children on the reservation with school supplies. Read more about Children’s Giveaway

Meet Kristina Iron Cloud

April 14, 2017

For the last five years, the Theosophical Order of Service has awarded scholarships to six nursing students from the Oglala Lakota College Nursing Program. The college serves the Pine Ridge Reservation which is situated in one of the poorest counties in the US. Many of the students awarded scholarships in the past have driven over 100 miles to be able to attend classes while working a full time job and having to care for a family. This year's recipient is Kristina Iron Cloud. Here is Kristina's letter of thanks. Read more about Meet Kristina Iron Cloud

Has Your Community Signed the Charter for Compassion?

February 18, 2017

With the latest developments happening in our country, there seems to be a greater need for compassion. Like the motto of the TOS, “A union of those who love, in the service of all that suffers,” the Charter for Compassion calls upon all of us to live by certain principles that promote a compassionate lifestyle. Through our thoughts, words, and actions, we can change our environment one person at a time. But it must begin with ourselves first. Read more about Has Your Community Signed the Charter for Compassion?

TOS on the Road

The Theosophical Order of Service is taking the show on the road. All members of the Theosophical Society in America are automatically also members of the Theosophical Order of Service, BUT don’t necessarily know it, and those who do know it may not know what the TOS is currently doing or how they can help. So, we decided to do something to increase the awareness of our members, and others, about who we are, what we do and why we’re doing it.

July 26, 2014

THE THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE SIGNS THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION

The Theosophical Order of Service has joined the International TOS and other TOS sections around the world in signing the CHARTER FOR COMPASSION. Signers of The Charter For Compassion encourage a world where everyone is committed to living by the principle of compassion. Signers pledge to work toward building a more compassionate world. The TOS joins with many other individuals, organizations and cities that have been inspired by the Charter For Compassion to work in diverse ways to create cultures of compassion locally and globally.

July 1, 2013

TOS Grants and Local Group Seed Money

TOS GRANTS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

The Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) is a charitable organization actively involved in the alleviation of suffering in the world. The TOS motto is “A union of those who love in the service of all that suffers”.

One of the ways the TOS in the USA serves is by drawing attention via our website and our magazine, For The Love of Life, to the efforts of others who are actively working in one of our areas of service: Family, Social Services, Animals, Ecology, Peace, Healing and Arts & Music.

January 30, 2013

TOS Action Group Wheaton - Silent Auction

The Theosophical Order of Service will be holding its third annual Silent Auction at Theosofest on September 11, 2010 at the Theosophical Society in Wheaton, IL. All proceeds from the auction go to benefit the homeless at the various local shelters that the TOS Action Group has been serving.
As part of our Silent Auction, two handmade donations, which are valued at over $200.00 are raffled off at the end of the day and this year is no different.

Our warm gratitude goes to Ben Furman and Pam King for their generosity.

August 28, 2010

TOS Action Group Wheaton - Calendar

We at the T.O.S. action group in Wheaton have been experimenting with different methods of service, and everybody involved has had very positive and useful insights into how to make things more effective and efficient. One such insight, which is the subject of this posting, is the forming of a yearly calendar, which will make it easier to serve all of the 7 branches of the T.O.S., as outlined by Mrs. Besant:

January 21, 2010

Welcome!

The goal of the TOS is service to our fellow humans and all of life on our planet. We encourage participation on this website through comments by both TOS members and non-members. For more detail on the TOS, please see About Us.

Submitted by Miles on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 10:09pm

TOS Action Group –Wheaton, IL

Meet the TOS Action Group –Wheaton, IL

The TOS Action group was formed in September 2008 by a group of individuals who share a desire to get actively involved in service work. Meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month to discuss ideas; plan how we can increase and participate in service opportunities and take the necessary action to complete the project. All meetings and activities are open to TS/TOS members, nonmembers, families with young adults, and retirees who just want to help. Participants are encouraged to get involved at their own pace in whichever project appeals to them most.

Left to Right: Jon Knebel, Joe Maiello, Jade Maestras, Paula Finnegan, Pam King, Jon Johansen
Kneeling in Front: Lois Tomaskovic Photographer: Jeanne Proulx

January 16, 2010

ROSEBUD INDIAN RESERVATION PROJECT

The TOS has been supplying survival assistance in the form of blankets and winter clothes, as well as Christmas presents for the children, to Rosebud Indian Reservation for several years. Our desire now is to escalate that assistance in ways that will be self-perpetuating and will encourage internal development to improve the quality of life on the Reservation. For the reader to have an appreciation of the magnitude of the problem, please review this link to an article in the Rapid City Journal of September 12, 2006. Read the story.

In April of this year we began to support the publishing of the tribal newspaper Sicangu Sun Times. The newspaper was in dire need of more modern computers to replace old and failing equipment. As of early June the publisher has received two Apple PowerMac computers – G4 and G5 - for the work of graphics design and page layout, and more equipment is on the way. We consider the newspaper to be a major player in spreading ideas and encouragement for building businesses and farming projects to improve the quality of life.

June 11, 2008

TOS International Centenary Gathering, January 2 & 3, 2008, Adyar

by C.V.K. Maithreya, Adyar, India

The International Centenary Gathering was held at Adyar on January 2nd & 3rd, 2008. Mrs. Radha Burnier, the International President, addressed the gathering. Mrs. Diana Dunningham Chapotin gave a report of the activities of the TOS across the globe. Mr.B.L.Bhattacharya added a word of welcome, on behalf of the Indian TOS, while Mr.P.S.Mital gave a brief report of the activities of the TOS in India. Greetings were received from many parts of India and the world. A tribute to Dr. Annie Besant was delivered by Ms. Dorothy Bell.

February 2, 2008

New TOS Chapter in Singapore

(Reported by Diana Dunningham-Chapotin, TOS International Secretary):
"... let us welcome a brand new group into our ranks: the TS in Singapore has just received approval from Radha to start a chapter of the TOS, with Danny Giron as its coordinator. They will have their inaugural meeting on February 23 in the very month that Annie Besant started the TOS one hundred years ago – an auspicious time, if there ever was one. Welcome, Danny, Sanne, Lily and the rest of you!"