Elvis Presley is known for being the first global rock and roll icon. He was also a blood donor himself! Of course, considering the toxicology reports upon his demise in 1977, others may have felt a whole lot of shakin’ going on!

And while Elvis has left the blood donor building, the need for blood rocks on. Leave your legacy by rolling up a sleeve, and saving a life or two or three with a love me tender blood or platelet donation.

And the Red Cross, in conjunction with release of the new Baz Luhrmann film, “Elvis”, are offering one lucky donor a VIP trip to Graceland (for two) including round-trip airfare. Plus a knock-your-Bobby-socks-off three-night stay at The Guest House, and the Elvis Entourage VIP tour package. But wait – there’s more! Courtesy of Graceland, they are throwing in a custom-wrapped Gibson Epiphone guitar and a peanut butter and banana sandwich!

But everyone will be a winner who comes in to a site to donate in the month of June: a $5 e-gift card to your choice of stores.

Now that we are entering the $5 per gallon of gas summer travel months, it is the time for the Red Cross to keep its supply of donated blood for patients up. To schedule an appointment, download the new Red Cross Blood Donor App, or go online to RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

All Red Cross blood, platelet and plasma donations are still being tested for COVID-19 antibodies, but that ends on June 3. Learn if your blood has antibody levels needed to potentially help COVID-19 patients with a weakened immune system.

Here are local blood drives in the East Hartford area in the first two weeks of June:

• Glastonbury – 6/8: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Irish American Home, 132 Commerce St.; 6/14: 1:45 to 6:45 p.m., Congregation Kol Haverim, 1079 Hebron Avenue
• Hartford – 6/13: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 242 Trumbull Street, 242 Trumbull St.
• Manchester – 6/2: 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.; 6/10: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Buckland Hills Mall, 194 Buckland Hills Dr.
• East Hartford – 6/3: 1 to 6 p.m., St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer St.

The Red Cross also screens all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This will provide Black donors with health insight, says the Red Cross, and helps identify compatible blood types quicker to help those patients with sickle cell disease.