Win An Elvis-Inspired VIP Trip, Guitar By Donating Blood In La Mesa

LA MESA, CA — The American Red Cross will give a lucky blood donor the chance to live like Elvis Presley with a three-night trip to Memphis, Tennessee.

Anyone who donates blood, platelets or plasma during June will be automatically entered to win a three-night stay at The Guest House at Graceland, an Elvis-themed hotel next door to Presley's Memphis home.

"Not only did Elvis Presley leave an everlasting fingerprint on the world as the first global rock and roll icon, but as a blood donor, he also left a legacy of generosity and community service that continues to this day," the American Red Cross said on its website.

The American Red Cross will pick only one winner, who can bring a guest along on the trip. The trip will also include a VIP Elvis Entourage Tour of Graceland, Presley's home, along with two plane tickets to Memphis, a $500 voucher and a Gibson guitar.

The promotion is a celebration of World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday and the new Baz Luhrmann movie "Elvis," which comes out June 24.

The American Red Cross will soften the blow for donors who don't get so lucky. All donors in June will receive a $5 gift card to a merchant of their choice.

The Red Cross in January announced its first-ever national blood crisis, the worst shortage in over a decade, according to the organization. The Red Cross provides 40 percent of the nation's blood supply and was forced to limit hospital distributions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Blood donations decline in late spring and early summer — especially during holiday weeks, like Memorial Day and Independence Day — but the need for blood and platelet transfusions doesn’t take a summer break," the Red Cross said in a news release. "Generous blood and platelet donors are critically important in ensuring lifesaving care is available the moment patients need it."

Ready for a chance to take an epic trip?

Red Cross blood drives are being held across San Diego County, including in La Mesa. See a list of upcoming blood drives below. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at a blood drive.

Blood Donation Opportunities

Cardiff

• 6/21/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1444 Lake Drive
• 6/28/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Encinitas Elks Lodge 2243, 1393 Windsor Road

Carlsbad

• 6/19/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Shoppes at Carlsbad, 2525 El Camino Real

Chula Vista

• 6/20/2022: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Chula Vista Center, 555 Broadway, Suite 138
• 6/21/2022: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., United Education Institute, 1261 Third Ave., Suite A
• 6/27/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chula Vista Elks Lodge, 901 Elks Lane

Encinitas

• 6/16/2022: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive
• 6/24/2022: 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Best Buy, 1046 N. El Camino Real

Escondido

• 6/17/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 149, 230 E Park Ave.
• 6/25/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 6/26/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Westfield North County, 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway

Fallbrook

• 6/16/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1620 S. Stage Coach Lane

Imperial Beach

• 6/22/2022: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., San Diego Job Corps, 1325 Iris Ave.

La Jolla

• 6/28/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Scripps Memorial Hospital Schaetzel Center, 9890 Genesee Ave.
• 6/29/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Scripps Memorial Hospital Schaetzel Center, 9890 Genesee Ave.

La Mesa

• 6/17/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, 8450 La Mesa Blvd.

Oceanside

• 6/23/2022: 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 6/23/2022: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 6/30/2022: 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 6/30/2022: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus

Poway

• 6/22/2022: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Poway Branch Library, 13137 Poway Road
• 6/27/2022: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., St John of Damascus Orthodox Church, 16903 Espola Road
• 6/27/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church, 16275 Pomerado Road
• 6/30/2022: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mossy Nissan Poway, 14100 Poway Road

Ramona

• 6/15/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Olive Peirce Middle School, 1521 Hanson Lane

San Diego

• Red Cross Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (See RedCrossBlood.org for hours)
• 6/18/2022: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Vons, 13255 Black Mountain Road
• 6/19/2022: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Jersey Mike's Tierrasanta, 9211 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
• 6/21/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Gossip Grill, 1220 University Ave.
• 6/21/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., WorldMark Mission Valley, 425 Camino del Rio S.
• 6/22/2022: 10:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Rock Church City Heights, 4001 El Cajon Blvd.
• 6/28/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rancho Penasquitos Library, 13330 Salmon River Road
• 6/29/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Carmel Mountain Ranch Library, 12095 World Trade Drive
• 6/29/2022: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Unire Real Estate Group, 11988 El Camino Real, Suite 120
• 6/30/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., AVA Pacific Beach, 3883 Ingraham St.

San Marcos

• 6/22/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Lodge at Lake San Marcos, 1105 La Bonita Drive

Vista

• 6/29/2022: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Avalon, 701 Breeze Hill Road

What To Know About Giving Blood

All blood types are needed. Interested in donating? Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information or to make an appointment.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors can save time by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive.