Berkeley Public Health throws a free family picnic Friday, Aug. 7, 1–3 p.m. at George Florence Mini Park in West Berkeley — boxed lunches, diaper and book giveaways, on-site lactation help. Despite the WIC name, the city says the picnic itself is open to any family.

Friday, Aug. 7, 1–3 p.m. — George Florence Mini Park, 2121 Tenth St., West Berkeley — FREE.

Berkeley's Public Health WIC program is throwing a "WIC-NIC" this afternoon. Here's the thing to know before you decide it's not for you. The WIC name points to the federal nutrition program for low-income pregnant people and families with kids under 5. But the city describes the picnic itself as open to all families. If you've got a small kid and a free Friday, you can go.

What's actually on offer, per the city's announcement: a free boxed lunch donated by Berkeley's Humbowl (while supplies last), diaper and children's-book giveaways, a certified lactation consultant on-site with free nursing supplies, plus kids' activities and raffles. It's timed to World Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Week, and a small resource fair rounds it out — the Baby Book Project, the YMCA, the city's immunization program and the Black Infant Health Program are expected to table.

The catch worth flagging: "while supplies last" means the lunches and diapers are first-come. Go closer to the 1 p.m. start than the 3 p.m. finish if you want the food.

Logistics: George Florence Mini Park is a pocket park in West Berkeley's flatlands, about a mile from North Berkeley BART — this is more a drive-and-street-park neighborhood than a step-from-the-train one, though AC Transit's #52 line runs to it if you'd rather not park. On-street parking is available, and the city lists the site as wheelchair accessible. There's an Eventbrite RSVP, but as an open, walk-up-friendly event you shouldn't need a ticket to show. Questions: Berkeley WIC, (510) 981-5360.

If you've only got an hour: arrive at 1, grab lunch and a book, and let the kids loose while you get the lactation or diaper questions handled — that's the whole value in one stop.