Spend time together while helping others

They could have slept in or met for a late breakfast date.

But early on a cold Saturday morning this spring, Lauren Zivkovic, 30, and her boyfriend Al Hawes, 29, rolled out of bed, bundled up and drove from their homes in Chicago to stand on the streets of Highland Park and collect money for Misericordia Heart of Mercy, a home for people with developmental disabilities.

The pair chose to give their time after Zivkovic received an e-mail from a friend, whose sister suffers from a developmental disability, seeking volunteers.

Immediately, she recruited Hawes.

"When we talked it out, we realized we never really volunteer and it seemed like it would be a nice gesture," Zivkovic said.

They were surprised to find out asking strangers for money is a fun date, too.

"It was a great way for us to hang out in a different setting," Hawes said. "And it gave us something new to talk about.

Indeed, serving food at the local soup kitchen, painting houses with Habitat for Humanity or canning for donations does more than help others and build up good karma.

Like Zivkovic and Hawes learned, it's another way to connect with the one you love.

Or try it alone and you might even meet a date who shares your passion for doing good.

Sometimes, volunteering offers big perks too - like checking out concerts. This summer Marklund, a non-profit based in DuPage County that also serves people with severe developmental disabilities, is looking for hundreds of volunteers to help at shows happening at Northerly Island in Chicago.

For each volunteer Marklund provides to work at the main concession tent serving food and drinks for concerts on select dates, the venue's catering company will donate a portion of their sales to Marklund.

So while you won't get to see the show, you get a free dinner, free transport to Chicago, and can hear live music by artists like Dropkick Murphys, John Mellencamp or Ringo Starr.

To check out all the shows available, visit www.marklund.org. And to find other volunteer opportunities in the area, visit the Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago at www.volunteerinfo.net.