by Briony Hale BBC News Online business reporter

It's about translating publicity into food

Bryan Droznes

The scheme takes advantage of the new wave of corporate social responsibility in the crisis-struck country, explains Bryan Droznes, director and founder of the porloschicos.com website.

"The private sector has recognised that the government is incapable of satisfying the needs of the poor."

The website, which mimics successful examples elsewhere, arranges for a plate of food to be given to the poor for each click on the site.

Companies which advertise on the site - including Coca-Cola, Citigroup and Unilever - then pay for the food.

Multiplying clicks

"These are companies who are having a very rough time in Argentina, but they are showing their commitment to the people nevertheless," Mr Droznes says.

The growth of the site has been exponential, with the vast majority of clicks being generated from Argentines at home and abroad.

Food can be donated by going to www.porloschicos.com

The site was launched in April, and only managed a couple of donations a day for the first seven days.

By the end of the month, it was averaging more than 1,000 donations a day.

Now, just two months later, it is getting about 15,000 donations a day.

Promoting capitalism

But Mr Droznes is not worried that the amount of clicks will outnumber the companies prepared to donate food.

"Many firms feel the need to introduce solidarity and want to find a way of identifying with the people," he explains.

The website is a way of stating clearly that companies want to help

Bryan Droznes

Four multinationals and a number of smaller Argentine companies have already signed up, and enthusiasm is still growing among firms.

"It's a proposition that interests both web users and companies," Mr Droznes says.

"It's about translating publicity into food."

The firms sign up to monthly contracts which set a maximum amount of money to be donated, in return for banner advertisements on the site.

Responsibility to help

The site is also helping to fight the growing anti-capitalist feeling in Argentina, says Mr Droznes, who also works as a banker with Citigroup.

"Argentines feel they have been cheated for a very long time, it's very difficult for them to separate good companies and bad companies.

The food is distributed to the poor at central points

"The website is a way of stating clearly to the Argentine population that companies want to help."

The site was set up by 12 professionals, including a university professor - who dedicate a couple of hours a day to operating the site.

"The middle and higher classes of society realise their responsibility to help the poor," says Mr Droznes.

More than half Argentina's 36 million people are thought to be living below the poverty line and one in four is unemployed, as the country struggles through a deep recession.

"The internet is an enormous tool to link people who have resources with people who need them," he says.