Thieves steal Christmas fundraiser gifts during St Pius Church X service at Dernacourt Dot and Lou Nappa with the new raffle prizes outside St Pius X church. Picture: Nick Clayton Source: News Corp Australia THIEVES have stolen a wheelbarrow full of Christmas gifts from a north-eastern suburbs church during a Sunday morning service. Long-time parishioner and raffle organiser Dorothy Nappa said the wheelbarrow was first prize in this year's annual Dernancourt's St Pius Church X Christmas raffle, which raised about $800 a year for church projects. But members of the church community have rallied together to ensure the stolen gifts are replaced and the raffle, to be drawn just before Christmas, goes ahead. Mrs Nappa and her husband, Lou, sold tickets to the church's 800-odd members and money raised went towards church restoration projects and charities such as the St Vincent de Paul Society. She said the goods in the wheelbarrow included a helmet, wine, a barbecue, rugs and toys, all donated by local businesses. While church members were upset by the theft, Mrs Nappa said they organised a replacement prize within days. Blackwell Funerals, which has a staff member in the congregation, offered to replace the wheelbarrow and provided new presents worth about $400. Other congregation members also offered money to pay for more gifts. Mrs Nappa was not surprised at the support she received, given the church's strong community. "Straight away we got a lot of support - a lot of people came to talk to me and told me not to worry," she said. "I've been in this parish since 1966 (and) it has the best community atmosphere - people always comment that we're a friendly bunch," she says. St Pius runs three masses every Sunday. In addition to organising the raffle, Mr and Mrs Nappa are organising a Christmas Day lunch for members of the church community who do not have anywhere else to be at the time.