When Michael Baker wants to spread Christmas cheer, he doesn’t mess around. He teams up with the Marines.

The Valley chiropractor is doing double-duty in the giving department. He and his seven-person staff will treat patients for free next Tuesday, and get donations for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots drive in the process.

Bring in a new, unwrapped toy, and Baker will do the doctoring for no fee. He has done it every December for five years.

That timing fits - he got the idea after he became a father himself. His children are ages 4 and 6.

“I have little kids, and I could never imagine them without some kind of toys or something,” Baker said.

The first year he held the drive, even the few and the proud had trouble hauling away all the toys. After the drive, a Marine came by to pick up the stuff, but had to radio for reinforcements. The little barrels usually used by the Toys for Tots program just couldn’t contain the whole holiday harvest.

“We had all these toys, about 200,” Baker remembered. “A corporal came and had to call for a backup truck to help.”

Some people just bring toys in without making an appointment, but Baker still gets plenty busy. He guesses - conservatively - he’ll see about 50 or 60 patients next week. He sees old patients, new patients, whoever. All are welcome, but an appointment is preferred.

“It’s pretty open. We try to accommodate everyone,” Baker said. “But we try and keep it organized, or it gets a little nuts.”

The Millwood-born doctor practices general and sports-related chiropractic medicine at Chiropractic Plus, 409 N. Argonne Road. He hopes to use his sports medicine skills as a doctor for the U.S. Olympic team someday.

On Tuesday, he might need some Olympian strength of his own to keep his kids from planning an invasion.

“They’re getting into the spirit of Christmas and Santa,” he said. “I’ll probably keep them home that day, so they don’t try to test all the toys out.”

If all else fails, he can always call in the Marines.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo