Valentine’s Day flowers, cards and packages filled the St. Thomas mailroom today, making it the busiest day and week for mail services.

Nina Ruud, manager of campus mail services, said between UPS, FedEx, DHL and the U.S. Postal Service, the St. Thomas mailroom received more than 600 deliveries during the last two days.

“The stuff has been filtering in all week,” Ruud said. “So it’s been a heavy week.”

Since Feb. 1, 2,303 packages came through the shipping and receiving area. Ruud said compared to typical weeks, the amount of packages and cards doubled. Compared to previous Valentine’s Days, this year was the busiest, with an increase of 1,500 packages.

Ruud made around 60 phone calls today to students who received perishable items. She said the mailroom stores edible items overnight in a small refrigerator.

“We really make an effort to get those items to those students,” Ruud said.

Some deliveries require workers in Mail Services to look up students’ mailbox and phone numbers to insure the mail is delivered to the correct students.

“A lot of parents and friends (send) some things that don’t have mail numbers on them and that takes extra time,” Ruud said, “just like the flower deliveries that don’t have phone numbers on them.”

Freshman Alexa Fryer was surprised when she received flowers from her boyfriend. She said she had to wait in line, but it was worth it.

“(The wait) was a few minutes,” Fryer said. “It seemed like a lot of people were getting stuff today.”

Junior Matthew Ghiloni picked up a textbook in the mail and said the wait in line was longer than usual.

“I’ve noticed lately it’s been really busy obviously (with) Valentine’s Day,” Ghiloni said. “The beginning of school.”

Sophomore Austin Riordan found two valentines in his mailbox: one from his grandmother who lives in Stevens Point, Wis. and one from a former co-worker in The View dining services.

“It was a random and really nice surprise gift,” Riordan said.

Although it is the busiest week for the mailroom, Ruud said it is a rewarding time of year.

“It’s overwhelming at times, but it’s also fun to see students come and pick stuff up and be really happy that they’ve gotten a big bouquet or a big balloon,” Ruud said. “That part makes up for the craziness.”

Bjorn Saterbak can be reached at sate3878@stthomas.edu.