Medline’s planned second distribution center outside Dallas isn’t projected to open until next year, but the company already is finding ways to double up its community involvement in the area.

This spring, Medline has begun sponsoring two separate exhibits at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, each an exercise in introducing kids to potential careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The first of these attractions is “Bio Lab,” a permanent exhibit in the museum’s Being Human Hall, which first opened in 2012. The interactive experience consists of four stations, each with a different biology-linked lab activity — for example, examining live bacteria under a microscope or separating liquids to simulate the separation of DNA. The 15- to 20-minute activities are geared toward children in late elementary and middle school (as well as adults) who sit at the stations and use Medline-donated supplies — gloves, lab coats, goggles, beakers and more — to conduct self-paced experiments using walkthrough instructions on a digital screen. (Perot Museum staffers are there to provide extra help, if needed.)

Bio Lab’s activities change out on a rotation, with new ones typically added a couple of times a year. As the exhibit’s supporting sponsor through next March, Medline not only will provide a steady flow of supplies from its existing distribution center in nearby Wilmer, Texas, but also will have its logo displayed on the Bio Lab station screens.

Meanwhile, in a different section of the museum, Medline also is sponsoring one of the 20 activities that make up “Soccer: More Than a Game,” a special exhibition that opened in March and will be onsite through Labor Day. Medline’s specific sponsored piece of the attraction is a digital medical table that creates an experience similar to the Operation board game, with kids relying on their hand-eye coordination and patience as they fix the “injuries” of simulated soccer players. Up to four people can participate at a time. The Medline logo again appears on the screen.

The double sponsorship is part of Medline’s recent efforts to increase its community presence in parts of the U.S. where it has two or more facilities. The new distribution center planned for suburban Midlothian, Texas, in 2027 would give Medline two technologically advanced DCs in the same metro area for the first time.

Unlike many of Medline’s other corporate sponsorships, which typically are for day- or weeklong events, these particular exhibit sponsorships are longer-term, allowing Perot Museum’s visitors — an estimated 1 million per year — to see Medline stepping up for STEM.

“When a company of Medline’s size actively seeks out and builds local connections in support of the STEM educational pipeline, the impact is undeniable,” said Dr. Linda Silver, Perot Museum’s Eugene McDermott chief executive officer (a nod to engineer and geophysicist Eugene McDermott, co-founder of Texas Instruments). “Through their sponsorship,  and with Medline’s long history of expertise in the medical field, together we’re uniquely able to introduce exciting new STEM career paths and engaging science opportunities for countless more curious young minds. We are so grateful for support of this shared vision.”

For Medline, it’s just another part of being a good neighbor.

“Our role in making healthcare run better doesn’t stop with getting providers the medical and surgical products they need each day,” said Jenny Lee, Medline’s chief marketing officer. “It’s also about looking ahead and encouraging the researchers and innovators of the future whose work will continue to improve the quality of healthcare. We’re thrilled to be teaming with the Perot Museum in helping to plant those seeds right there in their community.”